Comment on LePage considers two on his staff to fill PUC seats at pivotal time

Gov. Paul LePage is considering two members of his staff with deep backgrounds in energy issues as nominees for two of the three seats on the Maine Public Utilities Commission, state and industry officials have told the Portland Press Herald. Patrick Woodcock, who heads the Republican governor’s energy office, and Carlisle McLean, the governor’s chief legal counsel, are said to be the leading candidates for the posts, which carry six-year terms. The future direction of the agency is in play because Tom Welch, the current PUC chair, announced early this fall that he would retire at year’s end, two years before his term expires.