By Jackie Cowhig
But he said the government could not yet release a specific policy document on coal-fired electricity.
The fuel source is controversial because it produces more of the planet-warming gas carbon dioxide than any other power source.
"Coal power stations are out-of-date climate-wreckers," the group said in a statement.
COAL NEEDED TO DIVERSIFY ENERGY MIX
"Diversity is the key. We're in a race to replace ageing power stations and must strive to avoid sleepwalking into a gas-dependent future," Golby said.
Last month, it threw its weight behind a new generation of nuclear power plants, which can generate power without producing carbon emissions, but are still regarded as an environmental disaster by groups like Greenpeace.
E.ON was committed to developing a range of energy generation, coal-fired, renewables and nuclear, Golby said.
It has said it hopes to get approval for the new plant at Kingsnorth in Kent, southern England, this year.
The cost of coal-fired generation rose to 2.89 pounds per giga joule (GJ) in 2007 from 1.61/GJ in 2006, an 80 percent increase, he said.
(Editing by James Jukwey)
