A key aide to Gov. John Baldacci is a step closer to his appointment to the Maine Public Utilities Commission.

The Legislature's Utilities and Energy Committee today endorsed Jack Cashman's nomination by an 11-2 vote. The vote almost assures Cashman's confirmation by the Senate, which meets Aug. 20 to vote on that and other nominations.

Cashman is a former legislator from Old Town who has served on Baldacci's office staff and for a time headed the state Department of Economic and Community Development.

The opening on the three-member PUC was created by the departure of its chairman, Kurt Adams, to work for a national wind development company.