A Georgia judge rejected an air permit allowing the construction of a coal-fired power plant near Sandersville.

Administrative Law Judge Ronit Walker ruled Thursday that state environmental regulators must reconsider the permit issued to the developers of Plant Washington because it failed to set limits on harmful emissions from the plant.

The four environmental groups that challenged the ruling cheered Walker's decision, saying the plant's developers flouted basic federal laws designed to protect the public.

Power4Georgians LLC, the consortium behind the project, said in a statement it was disappointed and surprised by the decision.

Tags: coal plant, permit, Plant Washington, Power4Georgians, Sandersville