A permit to conduct site selection and construction of a major facility by a public utility shall be issued by the permit authority following a public hearing upon the application for such a permit, provided that, at such hearing, the preponderance of evidence shall establish the following:

   A. The health, safety and welfare of the citizens of this jurisdiction will be protected and served;

   B. The facility will not adversely impact the physical, economic, or social environment of this jurisdiction, except as permitted in Section 17.168.040(C);

   C. When an adverse impact is expected to occur, reasonable modifications and programs and other reasonable mitigating actions will be implemented and maintained to minimize the degree of adversity of the impact;

   D. Other feasible alternatives to the proposed facility have been assessed, and the proposed facility represents the best interest of the people of this jurisdiction and the best utilization of resources in this jurisdiction;

   E. There exists a need, or a reasonably foreseeable need, for the facility as proposed;

   F. Adequate resources (e.g., schools, water and air, roads, labor) exist, or will exist, for the construction and efficient operation of the facility;

   G. The facility does not conflict with this jurisdiction’s adopted Comprehensive Plan, or a Comprehensive Plan in the required statutory process of adoption, and all feasible actions have been taken to avoid conflict with other adopted plans of this jurisdiction, region, State and nation.

   Where such terms as "reasonable," "feasible" and "adequate" are used in the foregoing guidelines, the permit authority shall determine in each case what is or is not reasonable, feasible or adequate.

   The issuance of a permit allowing the activity shall, however, in no way constitute an exemption from zoning and other land use regulations, health regulations, or procedural requirements. In the case of this activity, the issuance of a permit is contingent upon the subsequent approval of the major facility by the Public Utilities Commission, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or other regulatory agencies, where required by appropriate statute or regulation.