AUGUSTA, Maine - A bill backed by the top Republican in the House and Gov. Paul LePage would create a Maine energy commissioner and give the governor the power to nominate the head of an independent agency that helps residents lower their energy bills.
Rep. Ken Fredette's proposal unveiled Wednesday would make the director of the Governor's Energy Office a cabinet-level position and create the Maine Energy Office. The executive director of Efficiency Maine Trust would also be nominated by the governor and confirmed by the Legislature.
Fredette's bill would also fix a drafting error in a law passed last year that caused state regulators to limit one source of Efficiency Maine Funding. The Public Utilities Commissions' decision has been widely criticized by Democrats and environmental groups.