White House climate advisor tells House Dems what’s coming

Zichal held a similar discussion with Senate Democrats last week.

The climate plan has generated attacks from Republicans, coal-state Democrats and industry, who say the regulations called for in Obama’s plan will hike electricity prices and hurt the economy.

Some conservative outfits plan to push that argument ahead of the August recess. They hope the effort will get constituents to pressure lawmakers to oppose measures that rein in greenhouse gas emissions.

The SEEC lawmakers said they told Zichal it was important to highlight local efforts to mitigate climate change and protect people from extreme weather events associated with it.

“On the subject of global climate change, you have to move from the abstract to the specific,” said Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), one of the co-chairmen for the 44-member caucus.

Zichal said in a Thursday event hosted by Politico that the White House plans to do just that.

She said the Obama administration would launch a task force designed to enhance cooperation between federal and local governments on climate change efforts.

Connolly said efforts like that would foster support for the president’s plan.

“We talked about outreach, and I think a lot of members felt strongly that you need to work at the local level. So work with local governments, work with members of Congress who are willing to collaborate and cooperate, highlight what’s going on at the local level,” he said.