Whether you are a believer or not in climate change the simple fact is that coal is likely to be phased out as a major fuel source in western nations at least. In 2001 **** Cheney (surprise, surprise, Halliburton) as US VP relaxed the rules over there for new coal fired power stations and since then over 150 new applications have gone in but to date only a handful have been approved as individual states (both Dem & Rep) have counteracted Cheney's Act on enviro grounds. Cali etc. Pennsylvania is finding it hard to sell its coal these days.
Coal faces the same issues here. Proposed Kingsnorth power station being the obvious example. Until Carbon Capture technology is proven (probably via gas powered stations) coal is on its arse.
What I find astounding is that nobody is asking why the green tariff electricity prices are rising in line with the fossil fuel tariff prices... same supplier perhaps!!
I agree with Gordon Brown and Steve Grant (lol) about turning down the short term measures to alleviate fuel poverty... perople need to concentrate on energy efficiency in their own houses and that is where any govt help should be placed, rather than knock £150 off as a one off measure.
Bet I bored you all there!