Canada, U.S., Mexico to share energy data

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This article was published 11/02/2016 (2994 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Energy data and information is now being shared across North America, the continent’s most powerful energy ministers announced at the signing of a memorandum of understanding on climate change and energy collaboration.

At a media event held in Winnipeg today, Canada’s Natural Resource Minister Jim Carr, along with Mexico’s Secretary of Energy Pedro Joaquin Coldwell, and the United States’ Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz, signed the MOU which will see the three countries share information on key areas, including climate change adaptation.

Carr promised working groups in these areas — which also includes reducing emissions, carbon capture and clean energy technologies — will start occurring between the three nations.

The memorandum can be found here.

The ministers launched a web platform which includes data tables on energy trade and maps on energy infrastructure across the three countries, making good on a 2014 MOU to cooperate on energy information.

The event was held at the Manitoba Hydro Place office, which Carr described as the “home to a Canadian utility with a growing presence in the United States and promising leads in Mexico.”

“Manitoba continues to be a leader in renewable sources of energy, that is the thrust of the conversation we are having this morning,” he said. “And in this context, what is good for North America is good for Manitoba.”

Moniz, who is from Massachusetts, opened his remarks by commenting on Thursday’s Winnipeg Jets game, which he attended. The Jets fell to the Boston Bruins 6-2, and Moniz joked that it was “competitive first 30 minutes and then something changed.”

Over 200,000 new jobs have been created in the United States in the area of solar energy, explained Moniz, who touted the need for the three countries to capitalize on the growing international market for clean energy.

This is the first trilateral meeting held in Winnipeg under the Trudeau government, which has promised to invest an additional $300 million a year in clean technology, and Carr told media he was proud to showcase Winnipeg, adding the members of the Mexican delegation visited the Canadian Museum for Human Rights on Thursday.

“It is a great honour for me to host them,” Carr said.

Protest interruption

The event was briefly interrupted after a protester walked in front of the ministers, holding a sign that said “Keep it in the ground.”

The protester, Riley McMurray, has been a frequent thorn in Carr’s side, showing up at multiple events to publicly voice his concern over the proposed Energy East pipeline and Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion.

McMurray told the crowd that oil should be kept in the ground and questioned Primer Minister Justin Trudeau’s agenda. He was escorted out of the room by security.

“I have zero faith in the words of politicians, I don’t take for anything, so I am just going to keep doing this until they commit to freezing tar-sands expansion, not building anymore pipelines and transitioning to a sustainable green energy economy,” McMurray said when reached by phone after the event.

Attendees were required to register ahead of the event and provide photo identification; McMurray said he registered for the event by claiming to be from a local newspaper.

When asked about the role oil will play in the energy market, Carr admitted the regulatory system has “not carried the confidence (of the Canadian people) in recent times.”

“We believe the most important step to take is to make sure the National Energy Board and other assessments have the tools and we, as the government of Canada, have the intention and capacity to full consult Canadians,” he said.

He added that indigenous communities will be “meaningfully consulted.”