Bill would require state siting council to consider alternative locations before placing large energy projects on high-value farmland

House Bill 34 22 drew a lengthy public hearing in the House Climate, Energy and Environment Committee on Tuesday as farmers, rural residents, conservation groups and industry representatives clashed over whether the Energy Facility Siting Council should be required to apply the same alternative-site analysis local governments must use.

Drew Draper, staff for Representative Bossard Davis, told the committee the bill “seeks to require the energy facility siting council to apply the same land use standards for siting energy facilities as local governments must follow,” a change proponents say would create parity and protect high-value agricultural soils.

Jim Johnson, working lands policy director for 1000 Friends of Oregon, said the change responds to a long-standing discrepancy the Oregon Supreme Court recognized in a 2005 opinion and argued the county process’ “reasons exception”…