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Trump signs order to roll back Obama plan to curb global warming

WASHINGTON — President Trump will delivered a major blow to environmental regulations that were implemented by the Obama administration Tuesday.

The rollback of policies designed to fight climate change is being praised by Republicans and panned by democrats.

Many say this executive order will begin the dismantling of the Environmental Protection Agency.

EPA chief Scott Pruitt said the executive order will undo the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan, an environmental regulation that restricts greenhouse gas emissions at coal-fired power plants.

The 2015 rule has been on hold since last year while a federal appeals court considers a challenge by coal-friendly Republican-led states and more than 100 companies.

Pruitt said Trump's intention is to bring back coal-mining jobs and reduce the cost of electricity.

Supporters of former President Barack Obama's plan, including some Democratic-led states and environmental groups, argue it would spur thousands of clean-energy jobs and help the U.S. meet ambitious goals to reduce carbon pollution set by an international agreement reached in Paris in late 2015.

Trump supporters say Obama's policies stifled job growth and by reducing the regulations on America's energy industry, more jobs will be created.

But critics warn, rolling back environmental regulations is not only short-sighted, but reckless.

"This is an action plan for destroying the climate. We're leaving a very bad future for our children,” said David Doniger with the National Resources Defense Council.

What exactly the executive order means for the Puget Sound area is unclear, although local environmental experts are bracing for a 100 percent cut in federal funding, based on President Trump's budget proposal.

Despite Trump calling climate change a hoax during his campaign, the White House says Trump now accepts the scientific view of climate change, but just disagrees with the Obama administration's policies.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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