Coal-Rich West Calls for Cleaner Power

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(KCPW News) Governors of Utah, Colorado and Wyoming say they want to make sure coal remains part of the energy mix as the nation tackles climate change. And they have good reason, says Colorado Governor Bill Ritter:

"we're coal-producing states and certainly want to ensure coal will be part of our energy future," says Ritter. "We need to advocate for devloping safe ways to burn coal in a clean way."

Ritter joined Utah Governor Jon Huntsman and Wyoming's Dave Freudenthal in a teleconference yesterday touting a new collaboration to encourage clean coal-burning technology. Huntsman says they will pressure Congress to offer incentives that will accelerate clean-coal options:

"There are too many loose ends right now, and that's a reason we are here, to identify those loose ends," says Huntsman. "We need the basic research - part of which can be done at universities in Utah - and the public policy agenda and those who build the plants can all look at our pathway forward and agree on reasonable policies."

Huntsman favors technology that will enable coal-fired power plants to capture their carbon gas emissions, rather than release them into the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.

Western States Governors say they will also encourage development of renewable energy sources like solar power and wind. Huntsman says clean energy production is Western Governors Association's top priority.

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