Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. encouraged other governors in a letter this week to join him in signing the "Energy Independence Pledge" that he signed last month along with billionaire T. Boone Pickens.

The pledge requests that the next administration and the 111th Congress "devote as much time as necessary during their first 100 days in office to develop a serious, workable energy policy."

In Huntsman's role as chairman of the Western Governors Association, he has been working with other governors to create an energy policy framework that they will eventually present to the newly elected administration.

"This endeavor will help encourage the newly elected president of the United States to develop a timely and workable energy policy," Huntsman said in a statement. "The time has come for Americans to join together and let our president and members of Congress know they must put the needs of the American people first with regard to energy and out future dependence upon it."