Stover, who set off on his first trek for coal in the 1980s, left southern West Virginia on Friday afternoon bound for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, where he wants to talk to the President about the industry.

“If anybody in the world can produce coal cleanly, it’s the United States of America,” he told the Beckley Register-Herald, noting there were no coal regulations in many other countries.

“Coal production for energy purposes is going to increase for the next 50 years, no matter what anybody does.”

The 57-year-old, who told the paper that his trip should take just over a week, feels Obama’s policies are devastating the industry and costing his county millions in tax dollars.

“If President Obama gives me one minute, I’ll make him fall in love with Wyoming County, West Virginia,” Stover said, adding that he was seeking a brief meeting.

Stover has trekked for coal two other times, once in 1998 when he walked from Mullens to Washington to protest the Kyoto Protocol, which he felt would have an impact on the coal industry.

He also walked to the US capital in the 1980s to bring attention to coal.