What is the cost of coal compared to other fossil fuels?
• Coal generates electricity at almost one-fifth to one-eighth the cost of other fossil fuels. Here is data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Office of Coal, Nuclear, Electric and Alternate Fuels, based on the year-to-date average cost in dollars per million Btu for October 2008 (the latest available data): Coal — $2.04 Petroleum liquids — $16.67 Natural gas — $9.58 (Take a look for yourself: www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/epm.pdf; Electric Power Monthly, January 2009; please see P. 7; Table ES2.B.
