RULING PUT OFF ON COAL PLANT ALTERNATE FUEL STILL UNDER STUDY.(Local)

Byline: Phil Brown Staff writer

A hearing officer reviewing a proposed coal-burning plant in Halfmoon cannot rule on the issue of alternative fuels until the hearings are complete, a state board said Tuesday.

The decision is a partial defeat for opponents who wanted an early ruling from the judge in favor of natural gas, a cleaner fuel.

However, the opponents said they were pleased by the Board on Electric Generation and Siting's desire to see fuel alternatives explored in depth in the hearings.

Inter-Power of New York Inc. is seeking a permit from the board to build a 210-megawatt cogeneration plant that would sell steam to General …