Coal is about as safe as nuclear except more radioactive but occupies a similar spot in being non demand based. Gas has no good alternative all grids need some gas right now.
Coal isn't as safe as nuclear. More people have died in coal power generation incidents that nuclear power ones; add in the deaths due to the air pollution from coal and it's not even close to being comparable.
> Gas has no good alternative all grids need some gas right now
> Gas has no good alternative all grids need some gas right now
Batteries are good peaked plant replacements.