BANGOR DAILY NEWS • November 2, 2021
Central Maine Power Co. was dealt a major blow Tuesday when voters backed a question aiming to kill its $1 billion hydropower corridor in a move that will rock the regional energy market and spur more legal wrangling. The “yes” side of Question 1 had 59 percent of votes to the “no” side’s 41 percent when the Bangor Daily News and its election results partner, Decision Desk HQ, called the race at 9:48 p.m. with 53 percent of precincts reporting unofficial tallies. The question backed by voters Tuesday may not be the final word on the project. A similar anti-corridor question was struck down in 2020 by Maine’s high court, which ruled that it unconstitutionally usurped power given to regulators. CMP could challenge the new law on those grounds or argue that the $350 million it has already spent should entitle it to continue.