"CORPUS CHRISTI -- Las Brisas Energy Center and several environmental groups take to the courtroom this week to argue the details of the proposed power plant’s air permit.

Company officials want to prove they are building one of the most modern and clean power plants. Opponents are hoping to show the plant’s application was flawed and better pollution controls exist.

The legal showdown -- known as a contested case hearing -- begins Monday and is expected to last two weeks. A final decision will come months later.

At stake is Las Brisas’ state air permit, which would allow the company to begin construction of a petroleum coke-fueled power plant and eventually to emit pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, particulate matter and volatile organic compounds."

Denise Malan reports for the Corpus Christi Caller October 31, 2009. [2]