Maine legislators approve plan for publicly owned utility
Bill heads to Gov. Mills' desk for signature or veto
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Updated: 8:45 PM EDT Jun 16, 2021
Bill heads to Gov. Mills' desk for signature or veto
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Updated: 8:45 PM EDT Jun 16, 2021
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BE ESTABLISHED FOLLOWING A FORCED BUYOUT OF THE STATE'S TWO UTILITIES. (VO 1: SENATE TODAY...CMP FILE) THE BILL NARROWLY PASSG IN IN BOTH CHAMBERS WOULD SEIZE CONTROL OF ULITITIES RUN BY SPANISH AND CANADIAN-OWNED COMPANIES, CENTRAL MAINE POWER AND VERSANT. (SOT SETH BERRY, (D) CHA, IR ENERGY, UTILITIES & TECHNOLOGY CMTE., 4:23:12) "THIS BILL IS ABOUT SOVEREIGNTY. IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE CONTROL OUR ENERGY FUTURE, NOT SOMEONE OMFR QATAR OR SPAIN OR CALGARY." (VO 2: OTHER TOWNS FROM PRIOR PKG) SUPPORTERS ARGUING -- 97 MAINE TOWNS ALREADY SERVED BY áCONSUMER- RUNá UTILITIES ARE SAVING MONEY. (SOT SETH BERRY, 4:54) "OUR INVESTOR-OWNED UTILITIES IN MAINE ARE CHARGING 58% MORE THAN OUR CONSUMER- RUN UTILITIES IN MAIN" E. (VO 3: TWO SHOT) BUT OPPONENTS ARE NOT BUYING IT. (SOT SEN. TREY STEWART, (R) AROOSTOOK, 11:39:41) "IT'S A SOCIALIST TAKEOVER OF TWO PRIVATELY-RUN COMPANIES." (VO 4: CMP FILE) OPPONENTS Y SATHEY'RE NOT DEFENDING CMP, WITH S ITP-R AND CUSTOMER SERVICE PROBLEMS. (SOT TREY STEWART, 12:) 11 "BUT THE SOLUTION ISN'T TO ROLL ALL OF IT TOGETHER AND HAVE THE GOVERNMENT BUY IT OU" T. (SOT SEN. JEFF TIMBERLAKE, (R) MINORITY LEADER, 1:36) "IF CMP IS BEING A BAD B, OY THEN THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONEE NDS TO ADDRESS IT AND TAKE CARE OF IT; THEY HAVE THE POWER." (VO 5: LEGISLATURE TODAY) AND SOME QUESTION THE WISDOM OF A HOSTILE TAKEOV. ER (SOT SEN. MARK LAWRENCE, (D) YORK 8:16) "FIRST OF ALL, T'S NOT A GOVERNMENT-RUN TAKEOVER. THIS IS A PRIVATE, CO NSUMER-RUN AGENCY, SO IT'S REALLY A CONSUMER-TAKEOVER." (VO 6: MILLS TODAY) GOVERNOR JANET MILLS TELLING THE PORTLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TODAY - - SHE'S A SKEPTIC. (SOT GOV. JANET MILLS, (D) MAINE, 7:2 8) "I THINK THIS MEASURE DESERVES A LOT ME OR THOUGHT, A LOT MORE RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS." (VO 7: CMP POWER LINES) MILLS QUESTIONING HOW 0 $9 MILLION A YEAR IN TAXES PA ID BY THE TWO UTILITIES WILL BE REPLACED. (SOT MILLS, 3:47) "I DON'T WANT OUR WNTOS AND CITIES TO LOSE OUT ON A SUBSTANTIAL PROPERTY TAX REVENUE BASE." (SOT BERRY 3:5 7) "THE BILL COVERS IT. IT PROVIDES FULL PAYMENT IN LIEU OF TAXES TO ALL TIFHE GOVERNOR VETOES THE BILL, THERE IS NOT A 2/3 MAJORI ITYN SUPPORT TO OVERRIDE. IF THAT HAPPENS, "PINE TREE POWER" PROPONENTS PLANO T GATHER SIG