U.S. Mayors Pass Boycott of Alberta Oil sands

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A resolution that was passed by United States mayors at their annual meeting in Florida has Alberta oil producers and politicians in uproar and battling back.

The U.S. mayors have called for all major American municipalities to ban the use of fuel from the oil sands in municipal vehicles.

The mayors are making the claim that producing oil from the oil sands emits three times as much carbon dioxide into the environment as conventional oil production.

The mayor of Calgary, Alberta has invited the U.S. mayors to come for a visit in order to learn more about the province's oil industry.

"When you have an important group such as this one passing a resolution saying do not use Alberta oil from the oil sands, I think it's important to us that we wake up and say this is an early warning and a signal," Dave Bronconnier said.

"It offends me deeply to hear people say dirty oil,” Alberta Finance Minister Iris Evans said.

Pierre Alvarez of the Canadian Association of Oil Producers feels that this ban would be very difficult to enforce because a litre of fuel cannot be traced back to the oil from which it was produced.

Alvarez feels that his organization must do a better job of educating people about the environmental impact of oil production.

"We've been great at talking about the economic issues," said Alvarez. "I think maybe we need to spend a little more time talking about the environmental issues."

On the other hand, the Sierra Club of Canada believes the controversy surrounding the oil sands will only grow.

"I wouldn't be surprised, particularly with an American election coming up later this year, if this became more of an issue," said the Sierra Club's Grady Semmens.

Over the next seven years the oil sands production is expected to triple: this means that emissions will grow as well. A new provincial new carbon capture and storage technology that will help curb emissions is anticipated.

said that the province was first to issue levies on emissions.

"We're doing cumulative environmental impact assessments both in the oil sands and also in the industrial heartland," Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach said.

"We're the only jurisdiction in Canada to put forward a land-use framework and also our water-for-life strategy is well ahead of many jurisdictions in North America."

Alberta has lowered emissions per barrel of oil by 45 per cent and has collected $40 million from companies that failed to meet emission targets.