Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A. Public Utilities § 4134. Acquisition of property

A. No facility for the generation, transmission or distribution of electricity owned by any person may be taken, except for the purpose of acquiring property or rights in it in order to permit the crossing of existing transmission or distribution facilities. In the event of a taking, the respective rights and obligations of the agency and the property owner shall, upon petition of either party, be determined by the commission.

B. No site for a project for which any utility or person had filed an application for preliminary permit, a license or application for exemption from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on or before November 1, 1977, may be taken until the time, if ever, that the application is denied, and no further renewals or appeals are available to the utility or person, or the utility or person abandons its application, permit or license; and

C. No property may be taken, except as may be necessary for the proper location of transmission or distribution lines and necessary appurtenances to them, unless the property is located within the territory in which a municipality or cooperative provides service or within one mile of the territory.