ATLANTA - Georgia's top court has rejected an appeal seeking to block a $2 billion plan to build the state's first new coal-fired plant in more than two decades.
The Georgia Supreme Court's decision is a setback for a coalition of environmental groups seeking to derail the Longleaf Energy Plant in southwest Georgia. The coalition also has support from the Rev. Joseph Lowery and other civil rights groups.
Midge Sweet of Georgians for Smart Energy called the court's decision "inconceivable" but said the groups will search for other ways to block the plant.
The plant is expected to create at least 100 full-time jobs and generate millions of dollars in tax revenues for southwest Georgia's Early County.
It would power more than a half-million homes through utilities in Georgia, Alabama and Florida.