Alberta should focus on innovation to attract U.S. investment, says Washington envoy

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CALGARY — Alberta’s trade envoy to Washington said the province needs to do a better job of promoting the role it can play in clean energy for the U.S.

James Rajotte told an Edmonton business crowd Friday that despite the cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline, opportunities exist south of the border for Alberta’s energy sector.

He said U.S. President Joe Biden’s aggressive stance on climate change presents a challenge for Alberta’s oil and gas industry, and that some Democrats in Congress have a negative view of the Canadian oilsands and its emissions record.

Rajotte said that Alberta’s energy sector can still attract major capital investment from the U.S. if it focuses on innovations like carbon capture and storage as well as the province’s recently announced strategy to become a supplier of clean hydrogen.

He said he also aims to make U.S. lawmakers aware of a plan announced earlier this month by Canada’s five biggest oilsands producers to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Calgary-based TC Energy formally cancelled the Keystone XL pipeline project earlier this month after President Biden revoked the project’s permit in January.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2021.

The Canadian Press