Originally published Friday, April 17, 2009 at 7:09 PM

WA Legis. debates clean-energy initiative changes

The House has approved a measure that eases restrictions on a voter-approved measure that compelled utilities to use cleaner energy.

By RACHEL LA CORTE

Associated Press Writer

OLYMPIA, Wash. —

The House has approved a measure that eases restrictions on a voter-approved measure that compelled utilities to use cleaner energy.

The measure passed Friday on a 57-40 vote after heated debate as a compromise on the bill unraveled on the House floor. The bill now goes back to the Senate.

Initiative 937 directs utilities with more than 25,000 customers to get 15 percent of their power from new sources such as wind or solar power by 2020.

A compromise bill that came out of a House committee was thwarted on the floor Friday when two amendments, including one to allow new and existing hydro power to count toward the renewable requirement, passed a floor vote and were attached to the bill.

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