Mills vetoes bills on UMaine governance, regional power transmission lines

University of Maine campus shot showing building and a flag

File photo / University of Maine The University of Maine System has its the flagship campus in Orono, shown here.

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Gov. Janet Mills on Wednesday issued her first two vetoes of the current legislative session, pertaining to how the University of Maine is governed and energy transmission line projects.

One bill, LD 1820, "An Act to Strengthen the Governance of the University of Maine System," was introduced by Sen. Rebecca Millett, D-Cape Elizabeth, to add faculty and staff as nonvoting members to the UMaine System's board of trustees.

Mills said that while the perspective of faculty, staff and the public is important to UMaine System's board of trustees, she believes they can be given a say in important decisions without adding faculty and staff to the body.

She also notes that the bill is very similar to LD 1253 from last year, except that it adds a member and makes the new member non-voting, but has some flaws.

"This proposal, once again, contravenes longstanding policy and law that guard against members of public board having real or perceived conflicts of interest in matters in which they benefit financially or otherwise from board action," Mills wrote in an April 26 letter to state lawmakers explaining her veto.

A spokesperson for the UMaine System told Mainebiz that since the board of trustees resumed in-person meetings for the first time in more than two years, the agenda has included and will continue to include facilitated conversations to proactively invite input and insight from faculty representatives selected by their peers as well as student representatives

Mills also vetoed L.D. 170, "An Act Pertaining to Transmission Lines Not Needed for Reliability or Local Generation," co-sponsored by Rep. Nicole Grohoski, D-Ellsworth, and Sen. Seth Berry, D-Bowdoinham.

The bill would impose new requirements for approving the construction of transmission lines considered to be nonessential, including an inquiry by the state Public Utilities Commission.

Mills told lawmakers in her veto letter that the bill would create "inappropriate barriers" to the transmission of transmission lines, which would hinder the ability of the state and region to meet critically important climate and clean energy bills.

"As an initial matter, designating transmission line projects as 'non-essential' because they provide substantial benefits beyond Maine's borders fails to recognize the regional nature of our electrical grid, and the global dimension of the climate crisis," Mills said.

"If we are to meet the threat the global warming represents to our environment and our economy, and so so in a manner that keeps the cost of electricity affordable for our citizens, we must be willing to think and act on a regional and national level. However well-intentioned, it would be a serious mistake to penalize interstate transmission projects merely because of the benefits they would deliver to other jurisdictions."

Grohoski said she was disappointed with the veto, and specifically mentioned the controversial New England Clean Energy Connect transmission project that would bring hydropower from Quebec to the region through Maine.

"I worked hard to address concerns that the public flagged in the [Central Maine Power] Corridor debate so that we have a more transparent and accountable process moving forard and that our clean energy transition proceeds at the necessary pace to meet our climate goals," Grohoski said.

"When writing this bill, I consulted with the Office of the Public Advocate, the Public Utilities Commission and developers who did not raise any concerns with me, so I am surprised and disappointed by this outcome. I hope my colleagues join me in voting to override this veto on May 9."

Berry cautioned that without the bill, private utility companies like CMP will be able to override town ordinances "and can seize your private property by eminent domain — and they do not even need to ask nicely first."