Klamath dam removal bill clears Oregon House

A bill to fund Klamath River dam removal with a surcharge on Oregon ratepayers won approval in the Oregon House today. The bill is part of a larger agreement to restore fish runs in the fractious Klamath Basin and offer some certainty to farmers, tribes and others who compete for its resources. Approved by the Democrat-controlled House on a largely party line vote of 34-24, Senate Bill 76 has already passed the senate. Once the two versions are reconciled it only needs the signature of Gov. Ted Kulongoski, who supports it, to become law. At its core the proposal would raise $180 million from Oregon customers of PacifiCorp, the utility that owns the hydroelectric dams. Another $20 million would come from California ratepayers. In addition, the state of California is expected to ask voters to approve up to $250 million in bonds to cover the rest of the tab for dam removal, which could begin after 2020. Kulongoski introduced the bill after signing a dam removal deal with California, the federal government and PacifiCorp. But passage of the bill doesn't guarantee that the dams will come down - that would require further federal action and debate - but it does set the terms by which Oregonians will pay for it...AP