AUGUSTA, Maine - The Maine Senate has confirmed Republican Gov. Paul LePage's nominee to the Public Utilities Commission.
Bruce Williamson's confirmation Tuesday means that all three members of the board that plays a significant role in shaping Maine energy policy will be LePage nominees. Williamson will replace David Littell, who was appointed to the commission by former Democratic Gov. John Baldacci.
The Republican-controlled Senate voted 25-10 in support of Williamson's confirmation on Tuesday.
Williamson is a senior economist at the Institute for Nuclear Security at the University of Tennessee's Howard Baker Center for Public Policy. He has described himself as "agnostic'' when it comes to the source of energy, whether it's wind, solar, natural gas, oil or something else. He says he will support energy that makes economic sense.