public service corporations; siting committee

HB 2598 creates a committee to review and approve the siting of power plants and transmission lines in Arizona, requiring utilities to obtain a "certificate of environmental compatibility" before construction. The committee, chaired by the attorney general and including state agency directors and public representatives, must evaluate applications, hold public hearings with required notice, and issue a decision within 180 days. Utilities must submit detailed applications with site information, cost estimates, and pay a fee, while the bill also allows minor transmission line replacements without a new certificate if they follow existing conditions. This process aims to streamline approvals while ensuring community input and environmental considerations.