The worst case scenario for coal is very close to the average case scenario, which is that tens of thousands of people die every year from pollution-induced heart attacks and strokes, as well as mining accidents. But that doesn't make exciting headlines.

This is a tragedy, of course, but nowhere near the level of a nuclear disaster like we're seeing in Japan right now.

Last I heard the current death toll from Fukushima was 2, and those workers were killed by the tsunami itself.