(a)

(1) Any person planning or proposing an energy project may apply to the contact agency for an order designating such project as a priority energy project. An application shall include such detailed information concerning the project as the contact agency may require by rule to enable the contact agency to make a designation, including a detailed design proposal for the project, detailed economic data on the costs of the project, and an analysis of environmental impacts of the project; provided, that the adequacy of an application under this section shall not be subject to judicial review.

(2) Not later than five (5) days after the receipt of a designation request, the contact agency shall publish notice of the filing of the designation request, together with a brief description thereof in newspapers of general circulation in the area of the project and in Nashville. The contact agency shall also keep on file and make available for public inspection and copying at the main office of the contact agency and in such other places as the contact agency deems appropriate such portions of the full designation request.

(3) No project shall be designated a major energy project unless the contact agency finds that the project is likely to reduce directly or indirectly the state's dependence on imported energy and meets the capital expenditure requirements set out in § 13-18-102(11).

(b)

(1) Any person who plans to develop an energy project may request the contact agency to designate the project a major energy project and to approve the project for joint review. The chief executive officer of the contact agency shall determine whether the proposed project is a major energy project and whether it qualifies for the joint review process. The chief executive officer of the contact agency shall consult with agencies who will be involved in issuing permits and with any other agency to determine whether the proposed project should be so designated. If the chief executive officer decides the project should be so designated, the chief executive officer shall recommend the designation to the governor for the governor's concurrence.

(2) If the governor approves designation of the proposed project as a major energy project, the governor shall issue an executive order designating a lead state agency, approving the project for the joint review process, and providing for a joint review staff.

(3) An applicant may request the joint review process for parts of the regulatory as well as for the entire process.

(c)

(1) In the alternative, any person who plans to develop an energy project may request the contact agency to designate the project a major energy project and to approve the project for expedited review. In the case of a request for expedited review, the applicant shall indicate which agencies or parts of the regulatory process the applicant wishes to have considered under the terms of this chapter. Expedited review shall enjoy the expedited judicial hearings provided for by this chapter. In the case of a request for expedited review, the chief executive officer shall make the determinations provided for in subsections (a) and (b) and submit such chief executive officer's recommendation to the governor. If the governor approves, the governor has to issue an executive order specifying the agencies or parts of the regulatory process to be included in expedited review and the procedure to be followed.

(2) An applicant may seek to be declared a major energy project and to utilize expedited review solely to enjoy any one (1) of the benefits set out in this chapter, such as expedited judicial review or consolidation of hearings, but such applicant shall be limited to the relief sought.

(d) A request for designation of a project as a major energy project and use of the joint review process, or for expedited review, shall be approved or rejected within one (1) month of the initial request.

(e) Once an energy project has been designated a major energy project, and the joint review process or expedited review process has begun, the designation and process shall not be revoked or terminated unless requested by the applicant or unless procured by fraud or misrepresentation.

(f) A decision of the contact agency or governor designating an energy project as a major energy project shall not be subject to judicial review, except for fraud or misrepresentation and no court shall hold unlawful or set aside any department or agency action, finding, rule, or conclusion on the basis of a decision designating an energy project as a major energy project.