The Casper Area Chamber of Commerce has joined with other chambers in energy producing states to support a common legislative strategy.

Lori Becker, the chamber's executive director, said the groups are coming together as Congress works on climate change legislation and energy policy.

"I think a lot of what is included in the [climate change] bill is going to impose extra expenses and work on small businesses," she said.

The Gillette chamber also is part of the Energy States Alliance. Other member chambers are in Alaska, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Colorado. The group will meet on Tuesday in Rapid City to discuss the organization's direction.

The alliance hopes to ensure energy and climate change legislation includes the following principles:

- All sources of greenhouse gases from all sectors of the economy are included in the legislation.

- The cost/benefit analysis of any energy or climate change legislation should encompass all economic sectors, including local economies, consumers and industries.

- Any revenue generated should be used to effectively and efficiently implement research and demonstration projects that reduce greenhouse gases, and not be diverted to unrelated government programs.

- The timeframe for reductions must be realistic and in accord with the current state of technology.

- Binding treaties with other countries should be in place before any mandatory reductions.

Business Editor Tom Mast can be reached at tom.mast@trib.com, or call 307-266-0574. Or check out his "Two Bits Worth" blog at tribtown.trib.com/TomMast/blog