I don't have any particular barrow to push here either, I know what you mean about alternative fuels, electric cars etc being stopgaps until a real solution comes along that can be as reliable and economically-viable as what we have now. I expect we will see a period of 20-30 years where a range of competing technologies will coexist, much like the first few decades of motorised transport.

And there are little-recognised wildcards too. ZECA (the Zero Emission Coal Alliance) seems to be well under the radar of most who are interested in CO2 reduction. Their efforts are based on getting the energy out of coal without having to burn it, by the dual channels of hydrogen extraction and exothermic carbonate production with the carbon left behind. The theory is that this approach will yield hydrogen in commercial quantities for fuel cells, and heat to power steam-driven generation, with lime as the main by-product. And no CO2.

Somehow I think that predictions of a "post-coal future" might not eventuate for a couple of centuries or so.