06/08/07 Oregon's Energy Bill & What If?

Oregon's Energy Bill & What if? I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report. With all the hub-bub going in the Senate regarding immigration it might be interesting to note that the votes happening right now are very crucial to the success of any reform bill. Washington Congressman Doc Hastings says if the Senate doesn't get it, neither will Congress. HASTINGS: Right now in this legislative process the bill and all of the focus is on the Senate. If the Senate doesn't pass a bill then immigration reform is dead. So the focus is over there, that's where it has to go and if they are successful in passing it then clearly the focus will come over here in the House and I will continue conversations that I have had on a bi-partisan basis here with members of the House on this issue. Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski has signed what many are calling the most significant environmental and economic legislation in Oregon in more than 30 years. Several weeks ago the Oregon Senate passed a bill that would require 25% of Oregon's electricity will have to come from things like solar and wind power by the year 2025. Some criticism is being voiced over the fact that this renewable energy mandate doesn't include existing hydropower, such as the dams along the Columbia River. Now here's today's Washington Grange Report. (GRANGE) That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.