§9202. Northern Maine Transmission Corporation established

1.  Establishment and purpose.  The Northern Maine Transmission Corporation is established as a body corporate and politic and public instrumentality of the State. The corporation is a special purpose corporation formed and managed as a subsidiary of the authority. The exercise by the corporation of the powers conferred by this chapter is deemed the performance of essential public functions. The purpose of the corporation is to:

A. Evaluate electric transmission interconnections between northern Maine and the rest of the United States and Canada, the transmission of natural gas or other energy resources in northern Maine and the construction of additional electric generation facilities in or adjacent to northern Maine; and   [PL 2003, c. 506, §6 (NEW).]

B. Examine the need for and viability of and, in its discretion, finance, permit, construct, own in whole or in part, operate or otherwise facilitate the construction or operation of:

(1) Electric transmission lines necessary to connect electric utilities in northern Maine with the transmission grid of the United States or Canada; or

(2) Facilities for the transmission of natural gas and generation or production and transfer of any other energy resources in the northern region of the State.   [PL 2003, c. 506, §6 (NEW).]

[PL 2003, c. 506, §6 (AMD).]

1-A.  Construction; other approvals.  This chapter may not be interpreted to exempt the construction, ownership or operation of any project or facility from any approval required by law or rule, including but not limited to any approval required pursuant to Title 35-A, chapter 21, or to alter the franchise rights of any transmission and distribution utility.

The corporation may not finance, permit, construct, own in whole or in part or operate any electric transmission line capable of operating at 69 kilovolts or more unless the Public Utilities Commission has issued a certificate of public convenience for the construction of the line pursuant to Title 35-A, section 3132.

[PL 2003, c. 506, §7 (NEW).]

1-B.  Records disclosure and confidentiality.  Records of the corporation, as a subsidiary of the authority, are subject to the disclosure and confidentiality provisions governing the records of the authority under section 975-A.

[PL 2003, c. 506, §7 (NEW).]

2.  Board.  The powers of the corporation are exercised by a board of directors, referred to in this section as the "board," that consists of 7 members.

[PL 1999, c. 513, §6 (NEW).]

3.  Membership and appointment of directors.  The directors of the board are the following 7 members:

A. The chief executive officer of the authority or the chief executive officer's designee;   [PL 1999, c. 513, §6 (NEW).]

B. The Treasurer of State or the treasurer's designee; and   [PL 1999, c. 513, §6 (NEW).]

C. Five people who have substantial knowledge of or experience in the electric utility industry, appointed by the Governor, including:

(1) A representative of the investor-owned electric utilities of the northern region of the State who must be experienced in electric transmission matters;

(2) A representative of the publicly owned and member-owned electric utilities of the northern region of the State, who must be experienced in financial matters;

(3) A representative of the residential consumers of the northern region of the State, who must be experienced in business matters;

(4) A representative of industrial customers of the northern region of the State, who must be experienced in the generation, transmission or purchase of electricity; and

(5) A member of the public with a demonstrated expertise in the economic development of the northern region of the State.   [PL 1999, c. 513, §6 (NEW).]

[PL 1999, c. 513, §6 (NEW).]

4.  Terms.  Members designated under subsection 3, paragraphs A and B serve during their tenure in the position they fill on the board. A vacancy among members appointed by the Governor is filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the unexpired term of that position. Members appointed by the Governor serve an initial term of 4 years and, upon completion of the term, the members are appointed as follows:

A. One member for one year;   [PL 1999, c. 513, §6 (NEW).]

B. One member for 2 years;   [PL 1999, c. 513, §6 (NEW).]

C. One member for 3 years; and   [PL 1999, c. 513, §6 (NEW).]

D. Two members for 4 years.   [PL 1999, c. 513, §6 (NEW).]

[PL 1999, c. 513, §6 (NEW).]

5.  Compensation.  Directors are compensated according to Title 5, chapter 379.

[PL 1999, c. 513, §6 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1999, c. 513, §6 (NEW). PL 2003, c. 506, §§6,7 (AMD).