Sen. Kelly Ayotte — a New Hampshire Republican waging a fierce re-election battle in a state that supports Barack Obama — has come out in favor of the president's climate change initiative,
The Hill reports.
"After carefully reviewing this plan and talking with members of our business community, environmental groups, and other stakeholders, I have decided to support the Clean Power Plan to address climate change through clean energy solutions that will protect our environment," Ayotte said in a statement.
"New Hampshire is already well on its way to meet the goals of the Clean Power Plan through positive steps it has already taken."
The Clean Power Plan, developed by the Environmental Protection Agency, proposes a 32 percent cut in the carbon dioxide emissions of power plants.
The surprise endorsement was quickly criticized by New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan who hopes to win the Democratic nomination to face Ayotte.
Hassan, who has asked on state lawmakers to support the Clean Power Plan said Ayotte was backing "corporate special interests over New Hampshire's environment."
She said Ayotte tried to protect tax breaks for oil companies and voted to block the EPA regulations to reduce carbon emissions.
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