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.

Sec. 7. 10 MRSA §9202, sub-§§1-A and 1-B are enacted to read:

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.

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.

Sec. 8. 10 MRSA §9203, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 513, §6, is amended to read:

3. Acceptance of proposals for connections. The corporation shall request and receive proposals from public and private entities to finance, permit, construct or operate any natural gas or electric transmission lines necessary to connect electric the facilities of any transmission and distribution utilities and natural gas customers in the northern part of the