You bring up an important point, because the use of coal has environmental consequences that extend beyond greenhouse gases. Yet the fact remains that the coal industry exists, both in the US and globally, and is one of the top global sources of energy. It is difficult to overturn such a pervasive and ingrained industry in a single swoop. Instead of using the same dirty technology with high GHG emissions as well as other problems while wind, solar et al. technologies are upgraded, it seems to me that it is preferable to employ “best practice” technology for the energy sources that we currently have.

Further, you must realize that the coal-using industries are hardly thrilled about being asked to invest significant capital into technology whose only purpose is to reduce GHGs; in some cases this can decrease the potential energy output of a plant. A cap-and-trade program will oblige them to do this, however, so CCS incentives will be necessary to assist their transition and to protect consumers. Meanwhile, it would not be surprising if some of these companies made forward-thinking investments in renewables, because after all, they’ll need to make technology changes either way. While coal use will continue because it is the most reliable resource (compared to wind and solar), renewable energy technology deployment is sure to increase as well. Ultimately, if electric utilities and other coal users can be convinced to deploy CCS, the current stagnation and reluctance to change will be shaken up enough that the “real solutions” to which you refer will benefit as well.

When the global warming alarm rang out in the 70es, our parents chose to ignore it. Now that people are finally listening, we don’t have time to experiment with expensive and illusionary technologies. Coal is dirty for the economy, for society and for the environment, regardless of where you hide its externalities. The movement is growing, the end of coal is near, stop keeping this dinosaur technology on life support and finance real solutions.