NEW ORLEANS (AP) - New Orleans' City Council is hearing testimony on a settlement that would let a utility giant go ahead with a new power plant project despite a scandal arising from the use of paid actors to provide phony support for the project.

The New Orleans affiliate of Entergy Corporation has agreed to pay a $5 million penalty for the use of secretly paid supporters at public hearings, but that is contingent on the council not revoking its prior approval of the gas-fired power plant.

Opponents of the plant angrily opposed the settlement at a committee hearing last week. And they returned for Thursday's full council meeting. They are concerned about the plant's cost and environmental effects. They say the project should be scuttled or the regulatory review process should begin anew.

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