Pine Tree Power critics say a state public electric utility is risky. Supporters look to Nebraska

MAINE PUBLIC • October 16, 2023

Critics of the Pine Tree Power campaign say the transition to a statewide public electric utility is impractical. But it has been done elsewhere. Nationwide, nearly 50 million Americans are served by public power, and a number of municipal and cooperative power systems are sprinkled across Maine. The state of Nebraska has had a public power system in place for more than 70 years, which evolved from the rural electrification movement. And Nebraska is similar to Maine in some ways.