The commission may, at the petition of a county which has adopted a geothermal element for its general plan, approve an equivalent certification program which delegates to that county full authority for the certification of all geothermal powerplants within such county. Once approved by the commission, the equivalent certification program shall replace and supersede the procedures for certification of all geothermal powerplants and related facilities, pursuant to Sections 25540 to 25540.4, inclusive, to be located within such county. The commission may, after public hearings, revoke the approved equivalent certification program of such county if the commission finds that the program does not comply with current commission certification requirements. The equivalent certification program shall include, but not be limited to, provisions for all of the following:

(a) Certification of geothermal areas as potential multiple facility sites, if so applied for.

(b) Processing of applications in less than 12 months.

(c) Periodic review and updating of the program by the county as may be required by law and the commission.

(d) Appeal procedures, including appeals to the commission on substantive issues. In any such appeal on a substantive issue, the commission shall determine whether the act or decision is supported by substantial evidence in the light of the whole record. The commission shall determine, within 15 days of receipt of an appeal, whether the appeal has merit and whether action should be taken.

(e) Input and review by other relevant public agencies and members of the public.

(f) Public hearing procedures equivalent to those specified in Article 6 (commencing with Section 65350) of Chapter 3 of Title 7 of the Government Code.

(Added by Stats. 1978, Ch. 1271.)