Oregon is trying keep pace with its neighbor to the south in combating climate change with new laws aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Oregon senate passed a bill that will require 25 percent of all power from the largest utilities be derived from wind, solar or geothermal sources by 2025.

Since Oregon already gets a lot of its power from hydroelectric power plants, the state will produce among the lowest amounts of greenhouse gases in the nation. The law will have an out clause that will enable power produces to use more conventional power if costs rise too high, a smart provision that pacifies business leaders.

California already will start producing 20 percent of its energy from renewable resources by 2010, and the senate is considering increasing its renewable use to 33 percent by 2020.

The Oregon legislature also passed a bill to put a 5 cent deposit on water bottles starting in 2009. Since most water bottles aren't recycled, this is a smart move.