AUGUSTA — Maine’s Democratic-controlled House will vote on a proposal from Republican Gov. Paul LePage to change the state’s wind-power goals aimed at helping Maine lower energy costs and produce jobs.

The Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee voted 6-2 on Friday in favor of an amended version of the bill, which would keep the state’s megawatt targets and add that Maine should seek to lower electricity prices and expand economic opportunities through wind power. Five absent members can still submit votes.

Maine’s current goals are to produce 2,000 megawatts of electricity through wind projects by 2015 and 3,000 megawatts by 2020.

LePage’s original measure would have stripped the megawatt goals. His administration says the goals must be improved to benefit Mainers.

But environmental groups have called it an attack on wind power.


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