Final answer:
The coal industry claimed that the Obama administration was waging a "war on coal" due to the administration's environmental policies and efforts to reduce coal consumption. The industry believed that the policies were a threat to their livelihood and the economy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The coal industry claimed that the Obama administration was waging a "war on coal" because of the administration's environmental policies and efforts to reduce coal consumption. Many environmentalists were pushing for cleaner and renewable energy sources, which would decrease the demand for coal. Additionally, the Obama administration implemented regulations on coal-fired power plants, which were seen as harmful to the coal industry.
For example, the Clean Power Plan introduced by the Obama administration aimed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, including coal-fired plants. This plan required states to develop strategies to reduce emissions, which could have resulted in the closure of some coal plants.
The coal industry saw these policies as a threat to their livelihood and accused the Obama administration of intentionally trying to eliminate coal jobs. They argued that the focus on environmental protection was undermining the coal industry and impacting the economy.