Proponents of a referendum question to replace CMP and Versant with a nonprofit power company won a court victory over the wording of the question on Thursday

In drafting the referendum, Maine's Secretary of State described the proposed power company as “quasi-governmental." But several supporters challenged that description. They argued the term "quasi-governmental" is unclear and misleading. The court agreed, and remanded the case to the Secretary of State to revise the wording.

Sen. Rick Bennett, a Republican from Oxford, co-sponsored the legislation, which was vetoed by Gov. Janet Mills. He said he's pleased with the court's decision.

"I would like to see the word 'quasi-governmental' removed, because it doesn't at all describe the entity that would be created. I think 'consumer-owned' would be much more appropriate," Bennett said.

The court did not rule on whether "consumer-owned" is the appropriate phrase, but Bennett said he hopes that phrase will be included on the ballot question.

https://www.mainepublic.org/courts-and-crime/2023-03-10/judge-order...

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Court: Maine must redo ballot language about power question

by The Associated Press

9 hours ago

EXCERPTS

PORTLAND, Maine — A Maine court is requiring the secretary of state to reword a ballot question about the future of utility service in the state over concerns the current language could mislead voters.

Maine voters are expected to participate in a November referendum about a proposal to replace Maine’s privately owned electric utilities with a consumer-owned Pine Tree Power Company. A group called Our Power is leading the charge behind the proposal...........................

.....................Wayne Jortner, lead petitioner for the Our Power initiative, said the court’s ruling was the right one. The phrasing quasi-governmental “is not only confusing but also factually incorrect,” Jortner said.

Bellows did not respond to a phone call seeking comment.

Maine Affordable Energy Coalition, which opposes the creation of Pine Tree Power, is reviewing the ruling, said coalition spokesperson Willy Ritch. In a written statement Friday, Ritch alleged that Pine Tree Power “is no more ‘consumer-owned’ than the Maine Turnpike is.”

He said the coalition would actually be run by elected politicians and that the move would mark the “largest seizure of private property in the state’s history.”

“It sure sounds like government power to me,” he said.

https://www.bangordailynews.com/2023/03/10/politics/our-power-ballo...

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