West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin and the governors of three other coal-producing states say federal incentives are needed to entice power companies to develop cleaner energy from coal.

The governors met Friday in Cheyenne, Wyoming, to discuss possible federal incentives for cleaner coal, including tax breaks.

They hope to persuade Congress to keep coal power viable amid pressure to limit emissions of carbon dioxide. Coal-fired power plants are among the nation's top emitters of carbon dioxide.

Manchin says there's been a movement away from coal, but it won't last. He says coal has to be part of the energy equation.

The other governors attending the meeting were Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and Utah Governor Jon Huntsman.