“Gas is cheap and it makes the most sense right now.”
Yes, but is gas picking up the slack fast enough ?
Nope. Case in point - TVA, a federally-owned power company, completed construction on a 700+ megawatt combined-cycle gas-fired plant right next to the John Sevier coal-fired power plant. The plan was to retire the coal-fired plant (also around 700-750 megawatts) after the new gas plant was commissioned.
Well, guess what - the gas fired plant was commissioned and placed in service, and they still kept the coal-fired plant in service all summer long. Why? Because the power was needed.
Frankly, I think that the best thing utilities can do is de-commission these coal plants and replace them with rolling blackouts, particularly in blue areas where the environazis tend to congregate. Nothing teaches a lesson better then getting your own oxe gored by your own actions based on your own false beliefs.