Speaking to the National Western Mining Conference in Denver, Manchin said the US Environmental Protection Agency was not being reasonable in proposing that future coal plants reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and storing carbon.

He said that doing so involved technologies that were not readily available.

Manchin also claims that taking coal out of the US’s energy agenda makes little sense considering China currently consumes four-times the amount of coal as the US.

Manchin and republican Ed Whitfield have sponsored a bill that would only let the EPA impose regulation standards that have been achieved for 12 consecutive months at six domestic power plants.

Although he agrees with Republicans that the Obama administration is waging a war on coal, he said he will not consider switching parties to give the Republican Party control of the Senate this year.

After his speech, Manchin said he's not a denier of climate change but maintained that in order for Americans to maintain a high standard of living the use of coal was essential.