SUN JOURNAL • June 12, 2021
Public-power ownership breaks down into two issues. First, should Maine people vote to create Pine Tree Power to replace Central Maine Power and Versant, Maine’s two electricity distributors? Second, is publicly-owned power a good idea? Odd alliances may be forming here. In general, Maine Democrats favor referendums, Republicans oppose. The guv won’t say, but is she in line with former Gov. Paul LePage, who opposes referendums? On the other side, Sen. Rick Bennett, R-Oxford, backs the bill, written by Rep. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham. Mills also favors CMP’s corridor to carry power from Quebec to Massachusetts, with a bit of it stopping off here in Maine. LePage favored the corridor from the get-go. Second, I have lived in places with publicly-owned utilities and privately owned. Some gave good service, some terrible. ~ Bob Neal