The government of West Australia has approved the firing up of three coal-based power stations, prompting the antagonism of environment groups.

Donna Faragher, WA's Environment Minister, has given the go signal to Aviva to power up the Coolimba power station located at Eneabba, approximately 270km at the north of Perth.

In deciding and sorting through the appeals against the projects, Ms. Faragher also permitted Verve's expansion project of the publicly owned power station at Bluewaters, and the restoration of the A/B power station at Muja, which are both situated near Collie, about 200km south from Perth.

However, the coal power projects have been given the go signal on the condition that the energy firms implement and comply with regulations to decrease the power stations' harmful gas outputs.

The conditions for approval also include retrofitted storage and carbon capture technology.

Ms. Faragher added that in order to enforce transparency, the projects will be re-examined annually and the energy companies must pass independent audits every other year.

"These decisions provide a consistent approach to greenhouse gas emissions and place the onus on the proponents to identify best practices in greenhouse gas abatement," the Minister said.

However, WWF Australia condemned the government's decision claiming that as soon as a price is put on coal, the taxpayers will have to shoulder the expenses of the three coal powered energy stations.

Paul Gamblin, director of WWF West Australia, also rebuffed the approval conditions regarding carbon capture technology, claiming none among the coal powered stations will store and capture carbon when they begin operations, "with no evidence of any suitable sites for them to store their pollution in the future".

Piers Verstegen, director of the Conservation Council, was also angered by the decision, stating it was "economic vandalism" and very irresponsible of the WA government.