In the interests of the public health and the welfare of the people of this state, it is the declared public policy of this state that the siting, construction and operation of energy facilities shall be accomplished in a manner consistent with protection of the public health and safety and in compliance with the energy policy and air, water, solid waste, land use and other environmental protection policies of this state. It is, therefore, the purpose of ORS 469.300 to 469.563, 469.590 to 469.619, 469.930 and 469.992 to exercise the jurisdiction of the State of Oregon to the maximum extent permitted by the United States Constitution and to establish in cooperation with the federal government a comprehensive system for the siting, monitoring and regulating of the location, construction and operation of all energy facilities in this state. It is furthermore the policy of this state, notwithstanding ORS 469.010 (2)(f) and the definition of cost-effective in ORS 469.020, that the need for new generating facilities, as defined in ORS 469.503, is sufficiently addressed by reliance on competition in the market rather than by consideration of cost-effectiveness and shall not be a matter requiring determination by the Energy Facility Siting Council in the siting of a generating facility, as defined in ORS 469.503.
(Siting)