Gov. Mark Dayton was elected chairman of the Midwestern Governors Association today during the group's annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

A statement from Dayton's office said the governor will focus on coordinating regional efforts on producing low-cost energy, boosting the number of alternative vehicle fueling stations and halting the spread of invasive aquatic species, such as Asian carp and zebra mussels.

State leaders from across the nation are in Washington for the annual meeting of the National Governors Association.

"I am honored to have been chosen by my fellow governors to be Chair of the Midwestern Governors Association. I look forward to working with them to further strengthen our region and address invasive species, which are a significant threat to our region's ecosystem, way of life adn economic stability," Dayton said in a statement.

Dayton will serve as chairman until February 2014 for the region that includes Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.