In March we reported on a move by the so-called Roadkill Caucus, a group of conservative Democrats and Republicans, to pass legislation on the senate floor to alter I-937 (the renewable energy initiative approved by voters in 2006) by classifying older biomass plants as new renewable energies. Sen. Brian Hatfield's (D-19, Raymond) legislation overcame a slew of amendments by lefty Sens. Maralyn Chase (D-32, Shoreline) and Sharon Nelson (D-34, West Seattle) before passing the senate, but fell flat in the house environmental committee.

A revamped version of that stalled bill is back in play in the special session and had a hearing today in senate ways and means committee. Hatfield's new bill functions differently than the original proposal, but achieves the same objective: allowing older biomass facilities to continue to operate. Proponents argue that the bill would stave off facility shutdowns and save thousands of jobs across the state.

The new bill creates a new definition of a "biomass energy system" that would allow specified plants to continue to operate, including a Longview fibre plant and a Weyerhauser plant in Cowlitz County. Plants that would be affected include those in place before March, 1999 and those "located in a county in Washington State that is next to or has a three-year average unemployment rate that is greater than or equal to 120 percent of the state average."

Opponents of the original legislation argue that by incorporating older and less sustainable electricity facilities, the bill would prolong the move to other renewable energies, like wind and solar power. In defending her amendments to the original bill in March, Nelson also objected to altering a voter approved initiative, saying "rarely do we question the will of the people and say that they did not understand what they were voting for and change their intent.”

We have a call in to Hatfield's office.