"Oregon Poised To Be 1st State To Cut Ties With Coal-Fired Power"

"One of the last actions Oregon lawmakers took before adjourning Thursday was passing a landmark clean-energy bill.

The Clean Electricity and Coal Transition Bill lays out a timeline for Oregonians to stop paying for electricity from coal-fired power plants through its two largest utilities, PacifiCorp and Portland General Electric.

It requires the two investor-owned utilities to phase out coal-fired power by 2030 and double their renewable energy use by 2040. With the governor’s signature, the bill would make Oregon the first state to legislatively cut ties with coal plants and the carbon emissions that come with them. The utilities opted to support legislation to preempt a proposed ballot measure with similar goals. "

Cassandra Profita reports for KUOW March 4, 2016.