MAINE PUBLIC • June 1, 2021
The Legislature’s committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology voted 9-2 on Tuesday in support of legislation to create a consumer-owned utility, Pine Tree Power, that would replace investor-owned Central Maine Power and Versant. If approved by the full legislature, the measure would go to the voters at referendum in November. The controversial proposal, which had a nine-hour public hearing before the committee, drew both strong support, and opposition. The proposal could be before the full legislature next week, after the committee completes a technical review of the language in the measure and its amendments.