Associated Press - June 28, 2009 2:15 PM ET

WRIGHT, Wyo. (AP) - Wyoming is the top coal producing state in the nation and coal is valuable part of the state's economy.

But coal from the mines is shipped to plants that emit huge amounts of carbon dioxide. And those plants face tough regulations in federal legislation approved by the U.S. House.

That's cause for concern among state leaders.

Dozens of research efforts across the country are under way to find methods of capturing carbon dioxide produced from burning coal and storing it underground in order to keep the greenhouse gas out of the atmosphere.

While "clean coal" technology is still in its infancy, Wyoming isn't waiting around.

The state is undertaking an expensive and time-consuming effort to help keep coal in the nation's future energy picture.

Advocates for coal say the resource should be a part of future electric generation because it will take decades to establish renewables as a viable energy source.

Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal (FREE'-den-thawl) argues that not only his state but the entire nation has a stake in coal's future if the United States wants to maintain affordable electric bills and meet the nation's future power demands.

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