AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) â A coalition that's pushing for a referendum to set a state minimum for renewable energy in Maine fell short of the voters' signatures needed by Monday's deadline to force a November vote.
While Maine Citizens for Clean Energy missed the deadline to file the petitions with state election officials, the group promised to continue to gather signatures in hopes of sending a ballot initiative to voters next year. At least 57,277 voters' signatures must be certified to put the proposal on the ballot.
Campaign officials did not say how many signatures they were short because they were still tallying those that had been collected, but they added they're confident they'll have enough for the 2013 vote.
"Going for the 2012 ballot was always a race against the clock. Despite the incredible enthusiasm from the public and from hundreds of campaign volunteers, the clock was just a little too fast for us to hit the deadline for the 2012 ballot," said David Farmer, spokesman for Maine Citizens for Clean Energy. "One more week likely would have been enough. (Read more...)
