The League of Conservation Voters announced Thursday that it is launching a new TV ad to laud Rep. Tom Perriello (D-Va.) for his vote in favor of controversial climate change legislation, in an effort to blunt Republican attacks on the freshman over the issue.

Perriello was recently targeted by the National Republican Congressional Committee in a TV ad that criticized his vote for the cap-and-trade bill that narrowly passed the House in late June.

The LCV ad is a direct response to the NRCC attack, and the 30-second spot is expected to air this week on stations in Perriello’s southside Virginia district, which includes Charlottesville, Danville and Martinsville.

“Representative Perriello cast a critical vote for a comprehensive clean energy jobs bill that will create the industries of tomorrow and make the U.S. a global leader in new energy technology,— LCV President Gene Karpinski said in a statement. “These Republican leaders in Washington continue to cling to Big Oil’s failed energy policies and Karl Rove’s somewhat casual relationship with the truth.—

Republicans responded by saying they welcomed the LCV ad.

“We are thrilled that a liberal Washington group is spotlighting Tom Perriello’s vote to kill jobs and send electricity rates skyrocketing,” NRCC spokesman Andy Seré said. “It’s a helpful reminder to central and southside Virginians: When they needed a fighter for the middle class, their Congressman abandoned them in favor of elite environmentalists who care little for working families.”