in 2004, mighty river announce plans to refurbish the marsden b plant to fire it on coal to increase supply security north of auckland. marsden b had been mothballed since it was completed in 1978 due to rising oil prices following the 1973 oil crisis and there being cheaper alternatives available. greenpeace staged a nine-day occupation of the site in 2005, and after the northland regional council granted consent, appealed to both the environment court and high court, eventually overturning the consent. mighty river appealed the high court decision to the court of appeal, but in march 2007 dropped the proposal.