TETON VILLAGE -- Although it's unlikely Western states can agree on a single approach to energy and environmental policy, state leaders hope the interdependence of energy producers and energy consumers within the region will yield some common goals.

Organizers of the Western States Energy and Environment Symposium said a good understanding of each state's needs can inspire greater cooperation on matters such as beefing up the Western electrical grid.

"The question is how we, as a region, can work together," said Wyoming Sen. John Schiffer, R-Kaycee.

Wyoming lawmakers kicked off the three-day symposium Sunday, describing the collaboration among 14 Western states as a working session with the goal of identifying actionable strategies for increasing energy production, energy efficiency and curbing environmental impacts such as carbon dioxide emissions.

Wyoming legislators passed a bill earlier this year to spend some $400,000 of Wyoming taxpayer funds to organize and host the event.

Two of the main backers of the effort, Rep. Tom Lubnau, R-Gillette, and House Speaker Colin Simpson, R-Cody, stressed that all 14 states have already invested several months worth of time and effort to identify potential policy and energy and environmental strategies for the western United States.

"We're not coming into this conference empty-handed," Lubnau said during a press conference Sunday.

The states are working on an accelerated time schedule, having committed to a Dec. 11 deadline to issue a final report detailing areas of consensus and actionable strategies. Schiffer said states will also have a good understanding of where they disagree.

Leaders said that's OK, because they can at least they know where each state stands.

"Let's face it. Wyoming's perspective and California's perspective are significantly different," Schiffer said.

Not only will state lawmakers attempt to coordinate mutually beneficial energy strategies among themselves, but they also hope to influence federal energy policy.

Several state lawmakers said they worry that national energy policy is being driven by the high population centers of the nation on the East and West coasts while some of the least populated states in the West have the most at stake in terms of renewable- and fossil fuel-based industries. State leaders said those states know best how to balance energy and environmental resources.

Some states are particularly concerned about the implications of the cap-and-trade bill currently before the U.S. Senate, which would place incrementally lower carbon dioxide limits and allow companies to buy and sell "credits" for permission to exceed limits prescribed to certain facilities.

"Congress is hell-bent on pushing things through," said Idaho Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover. "I'm scared to death of cap and trade."

Schiffer said he believes Western states are actually ahead of the federal government when it comes to addressing energy issues, and by banding together the region can have significant influence in Congress.

"Right now is our window of opportunity to influence energy policy," Schiffer said.

Yet symposium leaders said they don't expect to reach consensus on federal energy policy such as a cap-and-trade approach to carbon emissions. The states are also divided on the issue of renewable energy portfolios, which require utilities to derive a prescribed percentage of power from renewable resources such as wind, solar and geothermal.

For many years, the Western Governors Association has collaborated on regional issues. Leaders of the Western States Energy and Environment Symposium have been under scrutiny for spending $400,000 of taxpayer funds for an effort that seams set out to duplicate the ongoing work of the Western Governors Association.

Organizers insist a greater level of cooperation can be achieved by including state lawmakers in the process.

"Governors can do a lot of good things. But the really great things are done in the Legislature," Schiffer said.

Contact energy reporter Dustin Bleizeffer at 307-577-6069 or dustin.bleizeffer@trib.com. Read his energy blog at tribtown.trib.com/post/DustinBleizeffer/blog