Now, why is that?? It is all well and good to blame it on Obama, but the simple reality is that, except for limited purposes, coal is simply not as desirable a feedstock OR fuel.
"Here's some on Marcellus takeaway capacity: Courtesy of Range Resources"
In other words, "takeaway capacity" means "not enough pipelines". I think "thackney" provided that more understandable explanation some months ago. And I think we can blame at least some of the pipeline shortage on Obama, also. I doubt that the only pipeline delayed was the one in the Dakotas.
1. Coal power plant improvements that could make them more competitive can't be done without triggering a New Source Review (regulatory issue).
2. Building new power plants based on coal gets Sierra Club types and regulators with political agendae involved, and the permitting process results in either a "No" answer or the thing drags out indefinitely while the meter is running on the project sponsor's development money. Financial closing doesn't happen until the permits are issued.
3. The Clean Power Plan added market-distorting requirements to new coal builds that made them prohibitive to even think about.
All that said, combined cycle plants are simpler to develop, build and operate.
Too bad about your company not being able to get a gasifier to work. There are people in developing countries that have been running them for decades. Perhaps H-1 visas could have solved the problem.