A Maine legislative committee has given approval for the creation of a consumer-owned utility that would replace Central Maine Power and Versant Power.

According to the Portland Press Herald, the amended bill was approved Tuesday by the Maine Legislature’s Energy, Utilities and Technology committee in a 9-2 vote with two lawmakers absent.

The plan would force both CMP and Versant Power to sell their assets and use the proceeds to create Pine Tree Power Co., which would be a privately operated nonprofit run by an elected board.

The approval is a major step in moving the bill forward, with the full legislature set to take it a look at it next and then Maine voters getting a chance to weigh in after that.