The new chairman of the Western Governors' Association said the group will continue its focus on global warming and what steps the western United States can take to produce clean energy.

Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal said it's clear that climate change is the main issue facing the world.

Freudenthal said the association will work with the federal government and a variety of organizations to reduce the use of electricity and generate clean electricity in a way that makes economic sense.

But Colorado Governor Bill Ritter says state initiatives won't do much good if the federal government doesn't take action.

He said eastern Colorado is already experiencing the effects of global warming with the shutdown of farm wells, and that the United States can't afford to wait any longer.