Oregon lawmakers from both parties are meeting again about a cap-and-invest carbon market, seven years after Senate Republicans walked out over a similar bill. The new workgroup is comparing Oregon's existing Climate Protection Program with the linked markets in California, Washington, and Quebec, and could bring a proposal to the 2027 Legislature. Supporters and gas companies say Oregon's current program is expensive. Offsets under the Climate Protection Program cost about $129 per credit, while California credits trade near $30. Opponents of the switch argue the program is working and that replacing it would delay emissions cuts. The debate is about cost, structure, and whether Oregon should join a broader West Coast carbon market.
