AUGUSTA — Maine lawmakers have rejected Gov. Paul LePage’s proposal to use revenue generated from increased logging on public lands to help residents buy modern heating equipment.

The Democratic-led House voted 89-53 on Friday in favor of killing the bill that would take $1 million in timber harvest revenue funds to help residents buy things like heat pumps to lower their heating costs. The Senate rejected the bill on Thursday.

The Republican governor’s administration says the harsh winter has caused heating costs to skyrocket for residents. It says the state should be doing everything it can to help residents lower their utility bills.

But environmental groups opposed the measure and the plan to increase the timber harvest, which they say will result in unsustainable overcutting of state’s forests.


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