And also more energy efficient, up to 42% for coal and 60% for combined cycle.
"Too bad about your company not being able to get a gasifier to work."
Oh, they got it to work (in fact you referenced the technology yourself....which tells you who I worked for back then), it just was not economically viable in the face of burgeoning natural gas supplies. As you said, they sold it off, and it was eventually successful when it reached customers for whom said natural gas wasn't available.
Apologies for the delayed response...tied up with church activities this weekend, and then "holiday stuff".
One thing to keep in mind- combined cycle vendors quote heat rates (efficiencies) on an LHV basis, and coal plants are quoted on an HHV basis. Its not a direct comparison. And sea level combined cycle heat rates are a lot better than they are at higher altitudes.
Then it comes down to the difference in delivered price.