Conference: Canadian-United States Energy Issues after Copenhagen May 28, 2010

Northwestern University’s Buffett Center for International and Comparative Studies is holding a workshop dealing with energy issues in the United States and Canada with particular reference to the oil and gas sector. The workshop will be held as part of the University’s broader interest in energy issues and sustainability and will specifically—but not exclusively—focus on the political, social and environmental ramifications of oil sands production. Contrary to public perception, Canada is the largest oil exporter to the United States, slightly ahead of Saudi Arabia. Ever since Richard Nixon claimed that the United States should seek energy independence, the prospect of acquiring energy supplies from domestic sources as well as from neighboring countries such as Canada and Mexico has seemed attractive to analysts and politicians alike.
Given continued instability in the Middle East and other major oil producing states such as Nigeria, Angola, and Venezuela, and with increasing doubts about the nature of U.S.-Russian relations, recent presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama have renewed the call for greater energy independence. The discovery and exploitation of the shale oil sands in Canada, mostly concentrated in the province of Alberta, bolsters such objectives. Indeed, the proven reserves of these oil sands—170 billion barrels—rank second only to the reserves of Saudi Arabia. Relatively high oil prices in recent years have made such oil economically competitive. Moreover, despite interests in renewable energy supplies and clean energy production, oil, gas and coal will remain key bridge energies until the full development of alternative energy sources.
The exploitation of oil sands, however, raises several issues. First, oil and gas production and the growing role of Alberta’s oil sands have significant environmental consequences. Second, the presence of multiple levels of governance presents a host of questions. How does provincial or state level policy relate to federal energy policy? Are local rights (indigenous rights; local communities) provided voice in the decision making process? How has NAFTA continued to influence the North American picture? Third, given the negative environmental consequences and relatively low royalties, the local population in Alberta has questioned the leasing arrangements between the state government and the oil producing companies. The workshop aims to analyze which factors determine the leasing arrangements.
This workshop will bring together some of the foremost experts who have worked on the oil and gas sector in the North American context, particularly Canada. The conference is open to the public. To attend, RSVP in advance with [email protected].

Official Website: http://www.bcics.northwestern.edu