BANGOR DAILY NEWS • August 11, 2023
Climate issues are a factor in the debate over a November referendum to put Maine’s electric infrastructure under the control of an elected board, but major environmental groups have stayed out of it so far. The referendum will ask voters to decide whether to buy out Central Maine Power Co. and Versant Power’s infrastructure. Sierra Club and Maine Youth for Climate Justice, are backing Pine Tree Power. Neither the Natural Resources Council of Maine nor the Nature Conservancy have weighed in. Following a lengthy debate process, the board of Maine Conservation Voters and the intertwined Maine Conservation Alliance voted in late May to stay neutral on the referendum. The Natural Resources Council of Maine was not able to comment Thursday.