By Alanna Durkin, The Associated Press
AUGUSTA, Maine - Documents show the outgoing member of the Public Utilities Commission's concern that the independent panel is being used as a "political arm'' of Republican Gov. Paul LePage to thwart wind power contracts.
The documents obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request shed light on the conflict between Commissioner David Littell and Chairman Mark Vannoy over Vannoy's push to reconsider previously approved wind power contracts.
Littell expressed his opposition to the move in a February email to a PUC staff member, saying the commission is a "quasi-judicial body, not a political arm of the governor.''
LePage has sharply rejected Democratic lawmakers' accusations that he has sought to influence the commission. Vannoy said he wouldn't remain in his job if he felt LePage was trying to control his decisions.