A proposal aimed at restricting long-term debt necessary to create a consumer-owned electric utility has enough signatures to appear on the November ballot in Maine.
The secretary of state confirmed Thursday that the threshold was met for the Central Maine Power-backed proposal to appear on the ballot.
The No Blank Checks initiative would require voter approval before the state takes on debts exceeding $1 billion, potentially setting up a roadblock for a separate referendum proposal to buy out Central Maine Power and Versant Power and create a consumer-owned utility, Pine Tree Power.
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE BUILDING COLLAPSES UNDER HEAVY SNOW
Both proposals would have to first be considered by state lawmakers. They would go to voters if lawmakers decline to adopt the proposal.