[11th_VA]

Since the two fuels compete directly for the same market — the power plants that light American homes — it is effectively impossible to increase production of one without decreasing the other.

I've read that statement many times - can't believe a college educated person would make a statement like that. First, they don't consider overseas markets, and second, it assumes no new homes are built.

[hoosierham]

Environmental concerns would seem to favor burning coal where the combustion products can be economically dealt with,a d cleaner gas burned in homes and other small users .

Heating homes with electricity wastes two thirds of the energy compared with heating by burning gas in a modern high efficiency furnace.