Modern coal-fired power-plants are much cleaner than the smoke-belching plants of yesteryear. Still, there is even a better solution: nuclear power.
The US Navy has been operating nuclear power plants safely for many years now. There is no reason for us not to be producing cheap and abundant electricity using emissions-free and fossil-fuel-free nuclear energy. That would free up a lot of oil and natural gas, reduce our dependence on terrorist-supporting nations, reduce overall pollution (including the pet pollutant-of-the-day: greenhouse gases), and alleviate the power-deficit problems that are rapidly growing in this country.
Oh yeah, there is ONE reason for not producing nuclear power: the political activism of the Greens and other Leftists that want to see America re-join the ranks of third-world nations.
Don't forget the security risks and plant incidents. They happen it just doesn't get front page news.
The even better alternative is to become less dependent to "grid" living. Become decentralized by using solar, wind, biomass and fuel cells. This eliminates a devastating attack to America environmentally and economically. How can you attack 200 million photovoltaic setups and wind turbines?