"The U.S. Export-Import Bank board of directors voted on Thursday not to proceed with the financing of U.S. exports to help build a coal-fired power plant in Vietnam, following a plea from U.S. environmental groups to stop the project."

"The Ex-Im Bank board decision was made after a "careful environmental review" of the 1,200-megawatt Thai Binh Two power plant, according to a statement from the Ex-Im Bank, citing a bank official.

Five environmental groups wrote to President Barack Obama earlier this week, calling the project "the first crucial test case" of his recently unveiled action plan to address global climate change."

Doug Palmer reports for Reuters July 19, 2013. [2]