“This is a most curious decision by the Gallop Government,” APPEA executive director Barry Jones, said today.

“On the one hand, the government is pursuing support for an emissions trading regime, and yet on the other hand, it is approving a power station that the WA Environment Protection Authority says will emit an additional 419,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year when compared to a combined cycle gas plant and proffered offsets.

“Western Australians will be paying more for their electricity and there will be a worse environmental outcome for the State.”

Jones said upon closer examination the government's logic looked even more curious.

“It seems that the government is also basing its decision on the grounds of diversity of supply and some economic merit of retaining coal," he said.

"According to the WA Office of Energy, 68% of publicly owned electricity generation in the State comes from coal; 90% of private generation is from gas.

“Based on those figures, the private sector has recognised the most economic fuel for electricity generation in Western Australia is clearly gas.”