Im not really up on power generation on the sort of scale that is being discussed here (telemetry and control on gas pipelines seems to be the rut Im stuck in at the moment), but I have been doing the numbers on electric versus fossil fuel transport.
All the preliminary research I have done thus far suggests that the amount of carbon generated for X km driven on fossil fuel is around 50 to 60% higher than using coal fired power to charge the batteries to propel the electric car the same distance.
The numbers are slightly variable depending on what fuel you look at, but not by much.
The numbers also vary slightly if you use AC or DC propulsion systems (as the battery requirements are a bit different), but once again the numbers seem to only vary by a few percentage points.
The important thing to keep in mind here is that both electric cars and, dare I say it for fear of being branded a heretic, biofuels are only stop gap measures until R&D produces something that relies on neither of the above or fossil fuels. Eventually it will happen, maybe not in my lifetime (of which there is still a fair bit to go) but there will be a workable solution at some point in the future.
Its also worth keeping in the back of your mind that each side of the arguement has its own set of figures to wheel out when needed.
I belong to the Electric vehicle forums and have seen a similar set of figures to counter the biofuels in the same way. I dont think there is really any animosity on either side of the arguement, just two seperate groups with different means of achieving the same end.
My 2c Worth
If anyone has any references that might help me, please feel free to PM me with a link.