A bill that would ask Maine voters to decide whether a new consumer-owned nonprofit should replace the state’s investor-owned utilities won approval from the Legislature’s energy committee Tuesday.

The bill (LD 1708) would direct the Public Utilities Commission to oversee an asset sale of Central Maine Power and Versant Power if it determines the utilities are unfit to serve. A new consumer-owned utility called Pine Tree Power would then purchase the IOUs’ assets. (See Legislators Considering Bill to Replace Maine’s IOUs.)

The Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee voted 9-2 in favor of recommending that the Legislature pass the bill with a package of minor amendments to clarify its existing language. Voters would take up the question of whether to move forward with the proposal in November, if the bill passes.

In voting against recommending the bill’s passage, Rep. Steven Foster (R) said he is concerned that the board that would run Pine Tree would be “politically motivated.” He also said that the bill does not properly consider what the status of current IOU employees would be after Pine Tree is established.

Rep. Nathan Wadsworth (R), who also voted in opposition, said he cannot support a government takeover.

“These companies are privately owned; they’re not up for sale. And [in this bill], we are forcing them to sell,” he said. “To me that’s a government takeover of power, and I’m just not there yet or probably ever.”

While Committee Chair Mark Lawrence (D) said he had been on the fence, he voted in favor, adding that he could not find a reason why the proposal should not go to voters. His primary concern, he said, is how the transition will affect the state’s objectives on climate change.

“There is risk in this, no matter what anybody wants to say, but there is also potential reward,” Lawrence said.

A poll conducted in mid-May for the nonprofit coalition Our Power found that 75% of Maine voters strongly or somewhat support replacing the IOUs with Pine Tree. Our Power expects the bill to go to the House of Representatives for an initial floor vote next week.