Timely assurance of power plant site availability is threatened by institutional inabilities to resolve often competing environmental/energy requirements. Institutional changes are needed. The issue of site approval should be separated from that of plant approval. A “one-stop” forum for site approval, modeled after Washington State‘s Thermal Power Plant Siting Act, is needed. The one-stop process utilizes one forum composed of officials drawn from all agencies involved in site related issues. A joint Federal/State Siting Council, with sole jurisdiction over site approval, is recommended. The State Council would have a determinative vote on all issues not otherwise preempted by federal legislation. Comprehensive siting criteria to stabilize the judgmental process would be developed in generic rule-making hearings. In all Siting Council proceedings the public would be represented by a government-retained attorney having access to independent technical consultants. One application would be submitted to the Siting Council. Site Prequalification, by which the site would be deemed “not unacceptable” for further development, would occur early in the planning process. Prequalification would depend on showing conformance with the siting criteria and a need for the power. Prequalification would freeze the site’s zoning, reserve the necessary water, and result in a specification of studies for final certification. One Environmental Impact Statement would be prepared by the Siting Councils. A Final Certification Agreement, embodying all terms and conditions governing site use for plant construction and operation, would be executed. The agreement would be in lieu of any other permit, certificate, or similar document.