Over 600 local elected officials back Obama’s coal rules

More than 600 locally elected officials across the U.S. encouraged President Obama to continue pushing his climate agenda and pledged their support in implementing it.

The letter sent to Obama on Thursday backed the president’s contentious rules for new and existing power plants, which the administration is working to finish before Obama’s term ends.

{mosads}“We can help you achieve the key pillars of your plan to reduce carbon pollution, especially the first-ever national limits on carbon pollution from power plants,” the letter reads.

Nationally, Republican lawmakers from coal-heavy states often argue the new rules, which seek to limit carbon emissions, would hurt local economies and kill energy jobs.

However, state lawmakers, local council members, and others all signed onto the letter praising Obama’s efforts and pressing him to not give up.

“As you know, the many communities that we represent are already feeling the effects of climate change now,” the letter states.

Signatories include elected officials from Florida, Iowa, Maine, Colorado, North Carolina and Texas.

In less than two weeks the administration is expected to unveil its proposal to limit carbon emissions from existing coal-fired power plants, which Obama has indicated he may personally announce.

The letter, circulated by a coalition of national environmental groups, comes one day after seven Senate Democrats called on Obama to reconsider his rule for new power plants.