West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin wants to raise Canada’s profile as an energy producer with legislators in Washington. He has invited Alberta representatives to appear before the Senate Energy Committee to discuss continental energy security.
The Senator had visited Alberta and the oil sands earlier in April. He said that many Americans are likely unaware of how important Canadian energy is to them. The crisis in Europe has highlighted the role the two countries could play internationally in offsetting dependence on unstable and hostile countries for energy supplies. Manchin noted that Canada and the US could become leaders in developing and promoting the cleanest energy production in the world, whether that is petroleum or renewables.