New to Side - Coal Boiler for New Construction

Electricity may be cheaper than oil now (doubtfull) (even in AK you'll be using #2 fuel oil for your furnaces, not #1/kero if you have an indoor tank) but it won't be if energy prices continue to spike. There is a lag in electricity price increases that you won't have with other fuels such as oil or propane, but it will rise nonetheless should there be sustained high energy prices and will quickly become the most expensive (along with LPG) heat source if you're using electric resistance. BTW, unless you're using a heat pump, which in alaska will have to be a very expensive ground source setup, electric resistance heat is ALWAYS 100% efficient. There are no "new more efficient electric heaters".