Stelmach says U.S. law could force Alberta to sell oilsands fuel to other nations
May 8, 2008EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach says if the United States follows through with import restrictions on "dirty" crude from oilsands plants, the province will simply sell its massive oil reserves to other countries.
The U.S. is preparing to invoke legislation to prohibit federal agencies from buying fuels that are produced with higher greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels, including oilsands crude.
Alberta has been lobbying for oilsands fuels to be exempted from the legislation to ensure that the U.S. military and other federal agencies are not prevented from buying them.
Stelmach made similar comments during a January trade mission to Washington when he said it was simply a myth that the oilsands were developed at a huge cost to the environment.
The premier says he's simply being "frank" with his latest comments, adding that other areas of the world are crying for energy.
More than two dozen Canadian and U.S. environmental groups were in Washington this week lobbying against any move to exempt Alberta's oilsands from the "dirty" fuels legislation.
