Proponents and opponents of Questions 1 and 3 on the November ballot are set to present their cases in a panel discussion from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28 at Lithgow Public Library, 45 Winthrop St. in Augusta.
The event is sponsored by the League of Women Voters — Capital Area, and the library.
The event will be available for remote participation on Zoom and will also livestream on Facebook.
Discussion of Question 3 will be the featured event. Question 3 is An Act to Create the Pine Tree Power Company, a nonprofit, customer-owned utility.
The question will read: Do you want to create a new power company governed by an elected board to acquire and operate existing for-profit electricity transmission and distribution facilities in Maine?
The argument for Question 3 will be presented by Al Cleveland and Leo Hilton from Pine Tree Power. The argument against Question 3 will be presented by Charlotte Warren and Barbara Alexander from Maine Affordable Energy. Also participating in the forum will be Maine’s public advocate, William Harwood, and Barbara Alexander, former director of the Consumer Assistance Division of the Maine Public Utilities Commission. Since 1996, she has worked as a consultant and expert witness on utility issues for state and national consumer organizations. Her opinions do not reflect the views or opinions of any client.
A brief discussion of Question 1 will follow. Question 1 is An Act to Require Voter Approval of Certain Borrowing by Government-controlled Entities and Utilities and to Provide Voters More Information Regarding That Borrowing.
The question will read: Do you want to bar some quasi-governmental entities and all consumer-owned electric utilities from taking on more than $1 billion in debt unless they get statewide voter approval?
There will be an opportunity for the audience to submit their own questions to be presented by the moderator.
To participate on Zoom, register at lwvme.org/events. Questions can be submitted in advance to capitalarea@lwvme.org.
The forum will be moderated by Judy Whiting of the League of Women Voters, Capital Area.
Check out other upcoming area events!
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