doing subcontracting work in the coal industry. and i have a couple grandchildren. one or two going to west virginia university right now. to get a minor in engineering degree. reporter: but the warning signs are ominous. now sits idle as do 130 others or 1/6 of the total of other coal plants in the u.s. the obama administration has rejected the accusation. but it presses ahead with more carbon regulations. i m directing the environmental protection agency to support an end to the limitless dumping from our power plants and create new pollution standards for both new and existing power plants. reporter: that latest proposal provoked to accuse the president in this monday letter of quote, circumventing the will of congress which has repeatedly voted gents carbon regulations. west virginia bears the effects
dumping of carbon pollution from our power plants and complete new pollution standards for both new and existing power plants. reporter: we went to west virginia this week to talk to the people who are directly affected by the obama administration s so-called war on coal to get a feel for how their lives are changing. john toth, for example, is a retired minder who spent over 25 years digging coal and working in related industries. my son makes his living by doing subcontracting work in the coal industry, and i have a couple grandchildren, one of which is going to west virginia university right now to get a degree, a mining engineering degree, and, you know, hopefully the coal industry will be around for them to make a living like i did. i think that he did exactly what he said he was going to do, he s going to ruin the coal industry. that s what he s been trying to do, and i don t think it really personal opinion