Shale Gas Outcompetes Coal (IMAGE) Case Western Reserve University Caption Data shows benchmark gas prices ('Henry Hub' prices) in the past four years to be cheaper than coal from Appalachia for over 88% of the months. Even the cheapest coal, in Wyoming's Powder River Basin, competes poorly in generating power in the great population centers east of the Mississippi once rail transport of $0.03 per ton-mile is considered. Credit Courtesy of The electricity Journal Usage Restrictions please give proper credit License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.