AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine lawmakers have overridden Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a comprehensive energy bill designed to expand the region’s natural gas infrastructure and lower energy costs and set the stage to allow the University of Maine to bid on future offshore wind projects.

Under the legislation, the state would partially finance pipeline construction in southern New England so more natural gas could get into the region for generating electricity. It would also boost funding to improve energy efficiency and to help lowincome families switch to more affordable heating systems.

LePage vetoed the bill last week, saying he would have let it go into law without his signature if it had included a provision allowing the University of Maine to compete for offshore wind projects.

The Democratic-controlled Senate voted unanimously late Wednesday night to override the veto, but also amended another bill to address the governor’s concern. The House voted 121-11 to override LePage’s veto last week.

The Senate-approved amendment would require Maine’s Public Utilities Commission to conduct a second round of competitive bids for offshore wind projects, giving the university a bidding opportunity.

LePage sent a letter to lawmakers, saying they should approve the energy bill now that the university will have an “equal playing field” to compete in offshore wind development.

Some Democrats had criticized the amendment, saying that opening up the bidding process would jeopardize an investment by Norwegian company Statoil to build four, three-megawatt wind turbines off Boothbay Harbor.