Court denies petition in New Mexico power plant case

SANTA FE, N.M. - Nov 09 - Associated Press

The New Mexico Supreme Court will consider a petition that seeks to disqualify members of one of the state's most powerful regulatory panels from deciding the future of a coal-fired power plant.

The court will have a hearing Monday afternoon on the request by New Energy Economy.

The environmental group argues that four Public Regulation Commission members have created at least an appearance of being biased through their public statements about a plan to shutter part of the San Juan Generating Station .

The group also accused some of the commissioners of being too cozy with Public Service Co. of New Mexico , the utility that operates the power plant.

Commission Chairwoman Karen Montoya and Commissioners Patrick Lyons , Lynda Lovejoy and Sandy Jones have rejected the accusations, saying they've been impartial.

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