CITIZEN POWER ALLIANCE

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- Central Maine Power is laying off 40 nonunion workers, part of parent company Iberdrola USA's elimination of 140 jobs in the Northeast.

Clayton Ellis, an Iberdrola spokesman, said the employees were released Friday in an effort to better align the company's operations with current business needs. He says the decision was difficult, but it's "an essential step given today's economic conditions."

He says the layoffs touch all of Iberdrola's U.S. utilities except Southern Connecticut Gas and Connecticut Natural Gas, where work force levels are being considered through a separate process.

Iberdrola's other U.S. operations include New York State Electric & Gas, Rochester Gas and Electric, Berkshire Gas and alternative energy supplier Energetix.