Before the director shall construct said steam generating facility within the state, or make application for any permit, license or other right necessary thereto, the director shall give notice thereof by publishing once a week for four consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the county or counties in which such project is located a statement of intention setting forth the general nature, extent and location of the project. If any public utility in the state or any operating agency desires to construct such facility, such utility or operating agency shall notify the director thereof within ten days after the last date of publication of such notice. If the director determines that it is in the best public interest that the director proceed with such construction rather than the public utility or operating agency, the director shall so notify the director of commerce, who shall set a date for hearing thereon. If after considering the evidence introduced the director of commerce finds that the public utility or operating agency making the request intends to immediately proceed with such construction and is financially capable of carrying out such construction and further finds that the plan of such utility or operating agency is equally well adapted to serve the public interest, the director shall enter an order so finding and such order shall divest the director of authority to proceed further with such construction or acquisition until such time as the other public utility or agency voluntarily causes an assignment of its right or interest in the project to the director or fails to procure any further required governmental permit, license or authority or having procured such, has the same revoked or withdrawn, in accordance with the laws and regulations of such governmental entity, in which event the director shall have the same authority to proceed as though the director had originally entered an order so authorizing the director to proceed. If, after considering the evidence introduced, the director of commerce finds that the public utility or agency making the request does not intend to immediately proceed with such construction or acquisition or is not financially capable of carrying out such construction or acquisition, or finds that the plan of such utility or operating agency is not equally well adapted to serve the public interest, the director shall then enter an order so finding and authorizing the director to proceed with the construction or acquisition of the facility.

Explanatory statement—2023 c 470: See note following RCW 10.99.030.

Effective date—Severability—1985 c 466: See notes following RCW 43.31.125.