Bid to overturn approval of coal-fired power plants fails

Green groups vow to continue fighting a proposed coal-fired power plant after losing their bid to overturn a regulator's approval they say fast-tracked the project so it could dodge incoming carbon rules.

Alberta appeals court Judge Patricia Rowbotham said Friday she would not hear the appeal by Ecojustice, representing the Calgarybased Pembina Institute, of a June interim approval by the Alberta Utilities Commission of Maxim Power Corp.'s HR Milner expansion.

In her written decision, Rowbotham said the application was "moot" since the regulator had been reviewing the 500-megawatt project for 28 months, making both interim and final decisions complete.

"Occasionally, courts and tribunals by necessity must give a decision expeditiously and render the reasons later. That is precisely what the commission did," Rowbotham said.

Pembina spokesman Chris Severson-Baker said unless Maxim redesigns the project to comply with Ottawa's incoming regulations, his group will oppose it "through every possible avenue."

Read the full story here.

Read Pembina's media release here.