Media Advisory - Interactive conference: North America's Energy Market:
Aligning Policies and Managing Carbon

VANCOUVER, March 23 /CNW Telbec/ - Energy policy coordination across North America is a key step in the transition to a low-carbon economy and the achievement of sustainable development.

On 24 March an international forum in Vancouver, British Columbia will examine barriers to harmonization and comparability of renewable energy standards and definitions among Canada, Mexico and the United States, as well as to discuss opportunities and challenges for carbon capture and storage technologies in the region.

The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is pleased to invite all media to participate in this unique event and discuss the key issues related to public energy policies and the future of regional energy markets.

When:

Wednesday, 24 March, 2010, starting at 8:30 a.m. Pacific / 11:30 Eastern

Where:

Online via webcast at http://www.cec.org/energy2010; or register to attend the event at The Fairmont Pacific Rim, 1038 Canada Place, Vancouver, Canada. This event is free of charge. However, as space is limited, we encourage participants to pre-register at: http://www.cec.org/Storage/85/8132_Registration_form.pdf

What:

Conference and webcast: North America's Energy Market: Aligning Policies and Managing Carbon. Full agenda is available at: http://www.cec.org/Page.asp?PageID=924&ContentID=2797

Who:

Presenters and speakers such as:

    
    - Craig Sabine, Manager, Energy and Climate, ICF International

    - Miguel Breceda Lapeyre, Coordinator, Energy Program, Universidad
      Autonoma de la Ciudad de México

    - Jan Hamrin, Secretary General, Environmental Tracking Network of North
      America (ETNNA)

    - Marlo Raynolds, Executive Director, Pembina Institute

    - Donald McInnes, Vice Chair and CEO, Plutonic Power

    - Paul Weiringa, Executive Director, Alternative Energy Branch, Ministry
      of Energy Mines and Petroleum Resources BC

    - Lawrence Pitt, Associate Director, Pacific Institute for Climate
      Solutions

    - Robert Wright, Senior Advisor, US Department of Energy

    - Werner Kurz, Senior Research Scientist, Natural Resources Canada

    - José Miguel Gonzalez-Santalo, Director, Mechanical Systems, Instituto
      de Investigaciones Eléctricas

    - Dale Friesen, Vice President, aboriginal Relations, Health and Safety,
      ATCO group
    

Whether in person or online, you will have opportunities to ask questions to presenters and panelists during the conference; you may also request interviews with presenters, speakers, panelists and/or members of the Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC).

This event, organized by the JPAC of the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation, is intended to encourage discussion around these critical issues in order to make specific recommendations to the Commission's Council, the top environmental officials in North America's three countries.

The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is an international organization created under the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) by Canada, Mexico and the United States to address regional environmental concerns, help prevent potential trade and environmental conflicts and promote the effective enforcement of environmental law. NAAEC complements the environmental provisions established in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to which it is a side accord.

The Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC), composed of fifteen citizens (five from each country), advises the Council on any matter within the scope of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation, and serves as a source of information for the CEC Secretariat.

For further information: For details and interview requests contact: Eduardo Viadas, [phone], [email protected]