WASHINGTON - Fed up with federal inaction and convinced of the dangers from global warming, five governors from Western states agreed Monday to work together to reduce greenhouse gases.
Their promise to target global warming was the latest of a rush of ideas shared this week as states push ahead on climate change and clean or alternative energy.
The twin challenges of global warming and energy were some of the dominant points of discussion over four days at the annual winter meeting of the National Governors Association.
Others discussed legislation to encourage "clean-coal" technology; the economic growth that would come from industries in windmills, solar panels and the like; and tax incentives to spur more renewable energy.
But out West, increasingly common droughts and bad fire seasons added urgency. The governors of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington state agreed to develop a regional target to lower greenhouse gases and create a market-based program aimed at helping businesses reach the still-undecided goals.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat seeking his party's presidential nomination, said the five-state agreement should spur other states ahead.
"You're going to see a domino effect with more and more states taking action," Richardson said.
"We must encourage all the governors to sign onto these partnerships," said California GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has pursued some of the most aggressive efforts in the country.
"I just want to make sure that everyone works together and fights global warming," Schwarzenegger added.