The current domestic energy shortage has resulted in a number of evaluations of technologies which might provide clean fuels from coal in an early time frame. The production of methanol from coal holds unique potential as a means of using a technology which is commercially available for producing a versatile fuel that can be used in automobiles, electric power plants, gas turbines, and fuel cells, A methanol-from-coal process involves gasification of coal to produce synthesis gas (carbon monoxide and hydrogen), followed by catalytic conversion to produce methanol. Gasification and methanol conversion technologies are reviewed and the integration of the two systems is discussed. The possible uses of methanol fuel are also discussed. Economic analyses from a number of sources (using 1973 dollars) indicate that at a 12% discounted cash flow rate methanol could be produced for between $0·13 and $0·20/gal ( $2·02 and $3·08/million Btu), depending on coal cost, gasification and methanol conversion scheme, location of plant, and other factors.