Sen. Barack Obama, (D) Presidential Candidate, "So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can. It's just it will bankrupt them because they're going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that's being emitted."

Strong words from Democrat Presidential Candidate Barack Obama.

Obama was speaking to the San Francisco Chronicle's editorial board.

The senator says his plan for an aggressive cap and trade policy would raise costs for companies for emitting greenhouse gases.

West Virginia's coal producers say that could be devastating here.

Bill Raney, West Virginia Coal Association, "That's very dramatic. It's most dramatic for the people who work in the industry to hear a presidential candidate talk about that is very disconcerting."

Coal accounts for half of America's power.

Obama says getting rid of coal is an illusion, but that fines could be used to develop alternative energy sources.

He admits his proposal is costly.

Sen. Barack Obama, "Under my plan of a cap and trade system, electricity prices would necessarily skyrocket."

Obama says he wants your support and that the front end costs are worth it for the eventual environmental benefits.

Sen. Barack Obama, "Because I'm capping greenhouse gases coal power plants, natural gas, you name it, what ever the industry was you have to retro fit their operations that will cost money. They will pass that money on to the consumer."

McCain's West Virginia campaign says Obama's comments are troubling.

Larry Swann, West Virginia McCain Chairman, "Senator McCain has made it clear from day one that he supports coal, clean coal technology as a part of his national energy plan to make us independent from foreign oil."

Raney says coal provides thousands of good jobs, and that work continues to make it cleaner.

He says Obama's comments don't shore up much faith in the candidate.

Bill Raney, "It's a slap in the face. And I do not understand when you think about the fact coal is American, mined by Americans, used by Americans."