PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • February 19, 2023
I urge a “yes” vote this fall on the ballot initiative to create Pine Tree Power, a nonprofit consumer-owned utility. This would convert foreign-owned Central Maine Power and Versant Power to public power status. I speak from 40 years’ experience as an energy and utilities analyst, including extensive work in the public power sector. Public power is time tested; it has been around for more than 100 years. Today, there are 2,000 nonprofit public power utilities serving 49 million Americans. The CMP and Versant workforces would continue in their jobs, with better protection from corporate outsourcing to out-of-state contractors. Again, please vote “yes.” ~ Richard Wolfe, Cumberland