HELENA, Mont. (AP) - Gov. Brian Schweitzer, joined by industry executives, announced plans Monday to build one of the longest electricity transmission lines seen in the West in 40 years _ a line that would carry "green" energy to big energy markets thousands of miles away.

The governor, who has placed coal-to-liquid fuel facilities as one of his top priorities, said he is promising to help TransCanada get environmental permits for the project that the company said could cost $2 billion.

If successful, the line would run from the coal fields of Montana to the Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Phoenix energy markets. It would carry electricity created by either wind power or synthetic gas derived from coal to meet clean energy requirements in the Southwest.

Developers hope to fast-track the project for completion by 2011, said Brad Thompson, a vice president of TransCanada, an independent power and infrastructure company.

Many hurdles exist. In addition to the state and federal premits that would be required, the company will also need to secure agreements from utilities to buy energy over the line and from companies that want to build the wind power plants and expensive plants to turn coal gas into electricity.