[KantianBurke]

Even if every environmental regulation was removed from coal production (good luck with THAT occurring) coal can't match natural gas' low cost. Coal is being priced out of the market. Period. Us consumers who have more money in our pockets welcome that. And its interesting that you rightly blast the Solyndra debacle but can turn right around and demand government assistance with a straight face for your industry of preference. Guess its not big government when you profit from it huh?

[palmer]

You keep implying I am profiting from coal subsidies. Perhaps you don't understand that the synfuels efforts having nothing to so with my electric power. Even if we consider the entire $700m in remaining coal subsidies as subsidizing electric power, and make generous assumptions the drawdown of coal there's still about $40b worth of coal electricity being generated. That's less than 2% subsidy. On my $400 annual bill we are paying $7 in subsidies.

Perhaps you can do the same for your annul gas bill. Use the Texas report I linked above and other sources and tell me your final $ and % federal subsidy on your own gas bill Unfortunately the Texas report lumps oil and gas as $3b and I don't know the breakout to heating and electricity and whatever else you are using natural gas for.