In 2020, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce surveyed registered voters and found that fewer than 20 percent of respondents thought it was a good idea for the state to borrow over $13 billion to take over both companies. After failing to pass their proposal through the Legislature, proponents are collecting signatures to force a statewide vote. They failed to meet a January, 2022 deadline and have said they will keep trying to get it on the ballot in November of 2023.