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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Central Point police seek attempted murder suspect ... UPDATED: Standoff ends with two arrests in Wilson Elementary neighborhood ... Hermiston homeless face winter with fewer sleeping options ... Central Point police seek attempted murder suspect ... UPDATED: Standoff ends with two arrests in Wilson Elementary neighborhood ... Hermiston homeless face winter with fewer sleeping options ... ENVIRONMENT Envrionmental groups strike deal over trying to reduce coal use in Oregon They seek a remedy by Oregon lawmakers Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Jan. 7, 2016 at 4:46 PM Updated Jan 7, 2016 at 5:27 PM By The Associated Press Posted Jan. 7, 2016 at 4:46 PM Updated Jan 7, 2016 at 5:27 PM » Social News PORTLAND — A group of sustainable energy advocates have partnered with power companies to try to reduce coal consumption in Oregon. The coalition of environmental groups has agreed to drop its bid to force power companies to offer 50 percent renewable energy by 2040, if the Legislature will pass a similar proposal in February or March. "If the proposal becomes law, clean energy advocates have agreed to withdraw a proposed ballot measure that would include many of the same provisions," according to an outline of the plan unveiled this week. The coalition, which includes the Oregon Environmental Council, Climate Solutions, the Sierra Club and others, has reached an agreement with Pacific Power and Portland General Electric to draft a proposal that will debut next week at the House Committee on Energy and Environment meets. The new plan is a scaled back version of the ballot measure. It would require coal to be eliminated from Oregon's electric supply by 2035, encourage the companies to build electric vehicle charging stations and increase the amount of renewable energy like solar and wind in the state. The ballot measure would have required all electric companies to comply with the new renewable energy and coal requirements, only PGE and Pacific Power, which provide a combined 70 percent of electricity in Oregon, would have to follow the new proposed requirements. Ry Schwark, a spokesman for Pacific Power, which is a subsidiary of the conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway Energy, told the Bulletin that the plan speeds up efforts the company is already working on. "It accelerates the process a little bit but gives us a clear timeline for us to plan against, (and) it gives us the flexibility to meet that," Schwark said. As of the end of 2014, coal made up about 24 percent of the power supply from PGE, said PGE spokesman Steve Corson. For Pacific Power, that figure is closer to 60 percent, according to Schwark. The proposal would grant the utility companies flexibility in how they use renewable-energy credits, the ability build electric charging stations into rates and the ability to block an entity such as a municipality from acquiring service territory without consent. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Jan. 7, 2016 at 4:46 PM Updated Jan 7, 2016 at 5:27 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501