"Cost and Performance Baseline of Fossil Energy Plants," by the Office of Fossil Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory offers estimates of the cost and performance of pulverized coal, natural gas and integrated gasification combined cycle.

Using available technology, coal-based plants are capable of producing electricity at relatively high efficiencies, the report said. Coal, because of its abundance and low cost, is expected to play a large role in the future of U.S. energy supply.

"By outlining what the current state-of-the-art is, researchers can measure progress and pinpoint in which areas innovations are needed," said Julianne Klara, NETL project manager. "Utilities wishing to build fossil energy plants can also use the report as a starting point for considering options."

Capital cost for non-capture plants are $554 per kilowatt hour for natural gas combined cycle $1,562 per kilowatt hour for pulverized coal and $1,841 per kilowatt hour for integrated gasification combined cycle.

With carbon capture, prices just about double. For NGCC the capital cost is $1,172 a kilowatt hour, pulverized coal is $2,883 and IGCC is $2,496. Fuel costs of $1.80 for coal and $6.75 for natural gas.