Question 3 Is a $13.5 Billion State Takeover of Our Power Grid.

Big Picture? One way or another we’re all going to pay. It puts politicians in charge and it could mean higher taxes or cuts to critical services we rely on every day.

What is Question 3?

The Pine Tree Power proposal would seize the state’s private utilities by eminent domain and create a state controlled electric utility run by elected politicians.

$13.5 billion

Seizing the state’s utilities would put us on the hook for $13.5 billion in debt.

  • Maine’s electric grid is the largest piece of infrastructure in the state. Forcibly taking it over through eminent domain, which is what Question 3 would ultimately do, requires paying a fair price. Experts estimate that price tag to seize both CMP and Versant Power would be $13.5 billion, over 2x Maine’s annual state budget.

  • What happens when that kind of new and unnecessary debt ripples through our economy? We all pay more. The Maine PUC’s 2020 study concluded that the proposal could increase taxes and/or result in a reduction in government services due to lower state tax revenues collected from CMP and Versant

politicians in charge

Question 3 would put partisan politicians with no experience in charge of our electric grid.

  • The only requirements to serve on the board of Pine Tree Power are that the candidate must be at least 21 years old and be a resident of Maine. In fact, of the 13 board members, only two are required to have any expertise or qualifications.

  • Once we introduce politics to the operation of our electric grid, it’s inevitable that special interests will get involved. Maine is a leader with ambitious climate change goals all built around beneficial electrification, but the moment we start electing politicians to run the grid, we can expect big oil and gas companies to get into the lobbying game.

no real plan

And worst of all, the politicians behind Question 3 have no real plan for operating the grid.

  • Question 3 is a risky scheme with no guarantee of improvements. In the bill language itself, Pine Tree Power is not required to submit a plan for how it will run the electrical grid, meaning no plan to reduce rates, deal with black outs or provide consistent service.

  • Governor Mills called this initiative a patchwork of political promises when she vetoed the bill in the legislature. Maine's electricity is too vital to leave in the hands of a group with no plan.

It’s a Risk Mainers Can’t Afford.