Obviously we're going in the right direction as coal sucks for a lot of reasons (as does every single one of our energy options), but we also still really really need it, at least for a couple of more decades. In the mean time we should acquire it and use it in the most reasonable and efficient and clean way possible. I don't understand how something that provides us nearly 40% of our electricity can be a HA unless you also think electricity is a horrible thing...but that would be stupid.
LOL, coal is toast now that solar is often cheaper. And even if it's not, gas is cheaper and cleaner than coal.