(upbeat music) - I'm Starla Sampaco in the Crosscut KCTS 9 newsroom.

(gentle music) Competing efforts to enact landmark climate change legislation in Olympia have divided the state's environmental coalition and the Democratic Party.

Governor Jay Inslee's proposal is a cap and trade bill that would create a greenhouse gas market in the state.

It's backed by influential environmental groups, as well as oil giant, BP, operator of the state's largest refinery.

Critics say Inslee's bill shortchanges minority and low-income communities.

One concern is that neighborhoods hit hardest by pollution won't see their air cleared, even if the rest of Washington moves towards a cleaner economy.

They're pushing a competing proposal called Washington STRONG which would tax greenhouse gases emitted by the largest polluters.

Each bill would pour billions of dollars into state coffers, whether either will become law is unknown.

The legislature will soon be winding down and neither has advanced very far.

I'm Starla Sampaco.

Find nonprofit Northwest news every day on crosscut.com.

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