Some argue that gas might be a better alternative to hydro or coal, but for countries that must import much of their gas the benefits of a stable and reliable source of cheap fuel in the form of coal present a very strong counter-argument to the capital costs of a gas plant. Unlike prices for coal, which is abundant and dispersed geographically, gas prices are subject to significant volatility, and the long-term trend in the face of fossil fuel depletion is uncertain.
有人认为，天然气或许是水力或者煤炭更好的替代之物。但是对于必须进口大部分天然气的国家而言，以煤炭作为稳定和可靠的便宜燃料来源益处多多，而天然气电厂需要资本投入，因此煤炭是强有力的反驳。煤炭储量丰富，分布广泛。与煤炭价格相比，天然气价格波动巨大，而且，在矿物燃料殆尽的情况下，其长期趋势也不明朗。比较而言，煤炭价格更为稳定，也可能持续很长一段时间。