Premier to Host “Open to the World” Energy Forum

?PREMIER’S OFFICE--Premier to Host “Open to the World” Energy Forum

The Government of Nova Scotia is holding an energy forum and roundtable next month in Halifax.

The events will bring together people with regional, national and international energy-related expertise as part of the current process to develop a new energy strategy for the province.

Approximately 175 people have been invited to attend the forum at Saint Mary’s University on Thursday, June 14.

Open to the World -- Nova Scotia Energy Forum will focus on opportunities and challenges facing Nova Scotia on a number of energy-related issues.

"Nova Scotia is at the crossroads of opportunity from new energy sources and new international energy markets" said Premier John Hamm. "The energy forum and related energy roundtable will provide an opportunity for the discussion and sharing of ideas and experiences on how others have dealt with energy-related issues, and the lessons they have learned."

Premier Hamm will host the event. Co-chairs will be former Alberta premier Peter Lougheed and Nova Scotia’s Sir Graham Day, former chair of PowerGen plc in the United Kingdom and currently chair of Hydro One, which owns Ontario Hydro.

The program includes a morning roundtable session involving people with experience in energy, and related economic, environmental and social matters. This will be followed by a broad forum discussion of energy topics and questions.

The energy forum opens with a keynote luncheon speech by Paul Cellucci, the U.S. ambassador to Canada. Mr. Cellucci’s remarks follow the recent unveiling of a new American Energy Strategy which features opportunities for Nova Scotia energy sales to the northeastern United States.

Nova Scotia is forecast to quadruple natural gas production to two billion cubic feet of gas a day by 2015.

New opportunities in electrical generation from traditional fuels, gas and renewable sources such as wind and solar, are expected in the years to come. There is a rapidly growing export market for natural gas.

There is also the emergence of expanded protection for the environment in the land, sea and air. The province is currently revising its energy strategy to take these changes into account.

Among those who have already accepted invitations to attend are:
Dr. Arthur Hanson, former president of the International Institute for Sustainable Development; David Hager, Kerr-McGee’s vice-president for worldwide deepwater exploration and production; Hans Konow, president of the Canadian Electrical Association; Brian Isbister of the Shetland Islands Fishing Federation; Dr. Stuart Smith, chair of the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy; Catherine Hughes, president of Schlumberger Canada; Colin Dodds, president of Saint Mary’s University (host location); and James Henley, president of the Nova Scotia Building Construction Trades Council.

The province’s energy-strategy process is hearing from local groups and individuals through a series of provincewide workshops, dozens of meetings, and through numerous written public submissions.

"This public process allows us to gather advice and listen to the views of Nova Scotians and others, who are directly affected by energy developments in our province," said Petroleum Directorate Minister Gordon Balser.

"Many other places have already discovered what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to electrical regulation, reducing pollution and permanently growing an economy through the development of non-renewable resources," said Natural Resources Minister Ernest Fage. "The forum is a great opportunity for us to gain the advantage of their knowledge."

NOTE:

A preliminary agenda for the forum is available on the Energy Strategy Web site at www.gov.ns.ca/energystrategy.

Further details on the energy forum, including a list of confirmed participants, will be available on the Web site closer to the event.