The exercise of the powers granted to the corporation shall constitute the performance of an essential governmental function and the corporation shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments upon or in respect of a project, or any property or moneys of the corporation, levied by any municipality or political subdivision or special district having taxing powers of the state, nor shall the corporation be required to pay state taxes of any kind, and the corporation, its projects, property and moneys and any bonds and notes issued under the provisions of said chapters and sections, their transfer and the income therefrom, including any profit made on the sale thereof, shall at all times be free from taxation of every kind by the state except for estate or succession taxes and by the municipalities and all other political subdivisions or special districts having taxing powers of the state; provided any person leasing a project from the corporation shall pay to the municipality, or other political subdivision or special district having taxing powers, in which such project is located, a payment in lieu of taxes which shall equal the taxes on real and personal property, including water and sewer assessments, which such lessee would have been required to pay had it been the owner of such property during the period for which such payment is made and neither the corporation nor its projects, properties, money or bonds and notes shall be obligated, liable or subject to lien of any kind for the enforcement, collection or payment thereof. The sale of tangible personal property or services by the corporation is exempt from the sales tax under chapter 219, and the storage, use or other consumption in this state of tangible personal property or services purchased from the corporation is exempt from the use tax under chapter 219. If and to the extent the proceedings by the corporation so provide, the corporation may agree to cooperate with the lessee of a project in connection with any administrative or judicial proceedings for determining the validity or amount of such payments and may agree to appoint or designate and reserve the right in and for such lessee to take all action which the corporation may lawfully take in respect of such payments and all matters relating thereto, provided such lessee shall bear and pay all costs and expenses of the corporation thereby incurred at the request of such lessee or by reason of any such action taken by such lessee on behalf of the corporation. Any lessee of a project which has paid the amounts in lieu of taxes required by this section to be paid shall not be required to pay any such taxes in which a payment in lieu thereof has been made to the state or to any such municipality or other political subdivision or special district having taxing powers, any other statute to the contrary notwithstanding. Any industrial pollution control facility financed by the corporation shall be subject to such approvals, as may be required by law, of any agency of the state and any agency of the United States having jurisdiction in the matter and, in the discretion of the corporation, may be acquired, constructed or improved as part of or jointly with a pollution control facility undertaken by a municipality or political subdivision or special district having taxing powers in the state and the corporation is authorized to cooperate and execute contracts with such a municipality or political subdivision or special district.