Alberta Premier Danielle Smith positioned Canadian oil and gas as the definitive solution to North American energy security concerns during a major address at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston on Tuesday. She emphasized the need for new cross-border pipeline infrastructure while suggesting the United States could secure "first dibs" on Canadian crude oil exports.
Pitching Alberta as the Energy Answer
Smith told the international audience that Alberta represents the answer to both energy security and the U.S. administration's ambitions for energy dominance. "Alberta is the answer. I hope you can see we really are," Smith declared, framing the province's resources as critical to filling the persistent gap between American production and consumption.
The Case for Expanded Pipeline Capacity
The Premier outlined significant pipeline proposals currently under consideration. While noting Alberta's desire to build a million-barrel-per-day pipeline to the West Coast, she highlighted even more substantial ambitions for southbound infrastructure.
"There are also proponents who would like to build about two and a half million barrels per day of additional egress to the United States," Smith revealed, underscoring the scale of potential expansion. She pointed out that despite increased domestic production, the United States remains a net importer of crude oil, making Canada the most logical and integrated supplier.
Learning from Past Setbacks
Smith acknowledged the painful cancellations of previous major export projects, including Keystone XL, Energy East, and Northern Gateway. She expressed particular regret about the costly collapse of Keystone XL, which was cancelled twice by successive U.S. administrations.
"The only regret I have is that we didn't do this 10 years ago," Smith admitted. "The next best time is to start now. I think that we now have the ability to have those conversations. We've also learned a few things as well."
New Opportunities Emerging
The Premier pointed to promising new developments, including South Bow Corp.'s partnership with U.S.-based Bridger Pipeline LLC on a proposed crude line that would utilize pipe originally intended for the Keystone XL project. Smith suggested that having a U.S. partner could help navigate regulatory challenges more effectively.
"We'll know when that open season closes what the enthusiasm is for that kind of pipeline infrastructure to be built, but I suspect it's going to be quite high," Smith predicted. She expressed hope that such projects might benefit from the new White House agency designed to accelerate U.S. energy production—the National Energy Dominance Council.
Strategic Benefits for Both Nations
Smith articulated a clear vision of mutual benefit from expanded pipeline capacity. She explained that giving American buyers continued priority access to Canadian crude—what she called "first dibs" on exports—would serve U.S. energy security while simultaneously helping Alberta grow its production.
The Premier also noted that enhanced southbound infrastructure would indirectly provide Alberta with access to global markets via the U.S. Gulf Coast, creating additional economic opportunities beyond North American borders.
A Shift in Energy Policy Priorities
Smith observed that recent global crises have prompted Canadian governments to reconsider their energy policy approaches. She described a noticeable shift from an exclusive prioritization of carbon emissions reduction toward a more balanced focus that includes affordability, security, and economic development.
Throughout her Houston conference engagements, Smith reported that conversations with industry and political leaders frequently returned to infrastructure topics, including discussions about a potential new cross-border natural gas export pipeline. She reaffirmed her government's ambitious goal to nearly double Alberta's oil production to approximately eight million barrels per day by 2035, positioning the province as a long-term energy partner for the United States.
