AUGUSTA, Maine - Members of the Legislature's Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee voted unanimously Thursday to approve the nomination of Carlie McLean to serve on the Maine Public Utilities Commission.
McLean, Gov. Paul LePage's chief legal counsel, was nominated to fill the seat vacated by PUC Chairman Thomas Welch, who resigned before his term ends in 2017.
Formerly with the Portland law firm Preti Flaherty, McLean joined the administration in 2011, serving as senior natural resources policy adviser and general counsel. She was named as the governor's chief counsel in 2013.
Quizzed on a number of energy issues by the legislative committee, McLean said she would carefully analyze any proposal that locks Maine into a natural gas deal that increases the flow of fuel to the state.
"I think that there are real long-term risks associated with any long-term contract and that needs to be assessed and looked at carefully," McLean said. "I'm ready to dive in and do that."
McLean's nomination now moves to the Maine Senate, where she must attract the support of two-thirds of the members present for confirmation.