(a)
(1) Any authority may acquire any private property that it may deem necessary for its purposes by exercising the power of eminent domain in the manner prescribed in § 18-15-301 et seq.
(2) However, power of eminent domain shall not apply to any personal or real property that may be owned or leased by a public utility or any personal or real property used to generate electric energy or sell electric energy at wholesale that is owned or leased by an exempt wholesale generator, as defined in § 23-1-101.
(b)
(1) An authority shall not be authorized to acquire through condemnation procedures any plant, property, facility, or business owned or operated by any public utility or pipeline company subject to the jurisdiction of the Arkansas Public Service Commission or any personal or real property used to generate electric energy or to sell at wholesale electric energy owned or leased by an exempt wholesale generator, as defined in § 23-1-101.
(2) Notwithstanding § 25-20-108 and subsection (a) of this section, an authority shall be authorized to enter into any contract, agreement, or undertaking to purchase or otherwise acquire and to jointly construct or operate the plant, property, or facility.