Alternative fuels

No coal near us, but Oz is the largest coal exporter in the world by a country mile. Only crappy brown coal down here which is only good for power generation and then only just.
Stuff is so damm cheap it is no wonder no other technologies can get close. Here the power station is on the edge of the pit and it is dredged and conveyed straight in; no loaders or trucks. Total cost to the generator is around $10/ton.
We can run the small chips through our stove but the neighbours get real cranky; smells awful.

 

I been around some of the vintage steam locomotives that burn coal, and the smell is not all the much better than Bunker C

 

At least running the stoves on Shells or Pits, the smell is pleasant.