changing attitudes about coal and green energy. national correspondent takestous one of those places tonight. >> fire. >> just the coal, itself, the downstream value to our economy, to our people, to our community. >> reporter: colorado, calls itself the friendliest town around, anything but for the coal industry. this area of western colorado, there were three coal mines, now there's only one. coal isn't the only casualty. you're also killing a community. well, this is empty. >> yeah, this used to be a quilt store. >> this is pastime friendly tavern. it closed just this year. >> reporter: the mayor saw 1,200 jobs disappear in one year. >> for every one job at the m d mine, they estimate there's five to seven jobs down valley. >> reporter: coal provided 50% of u.s. electricity eight years