Towards a North American Energy Corridor

By Dana Gabriel

http://www.borderfirereport.net/dana-ga ... rridor.php

As a result of NAFTA, North America is already a well-integrated energy market with Canada and Mexico among the U.S.’s top energy trading partners. Through the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), the North American Energy Working Group has further integrated a continental energy strategy. Other initiatives are also pushing towards a single North American energy policy.

The Western Governors’ Association annual conference was held in Park City, Utah on June 14-16, 2009. The meetings were attended by three Canadian western premiers. Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall spearheaded plans to develop a cross-border Western Energy Corridor. Both have announced that they intend to establish a Western Energy Corridor Coalition to further promote the initiative. The proposed energy corridor would be the largest of its kind in the world. Schweitzer is also vice-chairman of the Western Governors’ Association and emphasized the importance the oilsands play in regards to U.S. energy security with its further development being crucial to American energy independence. He said, “The most important energy corridor on the planet is no longer the Persian Gulf. It runs from the oilsands, Fort McMurray to Port Arthur, Texas.â€