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Wildrose Alliance Leader Danielle Smith Announces
Launch of Energy Task Force to 'Get it Right'
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Calgary, AB (November 10, 2009): Today, Danielle Smith, Leader of the Wildrose Alliance Party of Alberta ("Wildrose") announced the launch of a task force that will be co-chaired by industry experts David Yager and David Gray, and will bring experts together with party members to develop a detailed energy platform that the party can take into the next provincial election campaign.
"Alberta is blessed with so many different sources of renewable and non-renewable energy," stated Smith. "What we need to do is develop an integrated energy policy for Alberta that balances supply-side issues with demand-side challenges and brings public and environmental concerns together with industry opportunities.
"Albertans need a government that will restore investor confidence, streamline the regulatory process, properly reclaim land, manage environmental risks and help communities across the province, and Wildrose is committed to that," Smith added.
"I am pleased to step forward and reach out to industry leaders, academics, researchers and other experts who can help us develop a sound, integrated and sensible energy policy," stated David Yager, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, HSE Integrated Limited and current Chairman of the Petroleum Services Association of Canada. "I want to consult with the smartest people in the business to create the best energy policy possible for Albertans."
"Alberta needs a modern and forward-thinking energy policy that also focuses on the demands our system will face in the future," stated David Gray, a 20-year electricity industry veteran and former Executive Director with the Office of the Utilities Consumer Advocate. "We need to put consumers first and I look forward to reaching out to colleagues and industry experts to help Danielle and the Wildrose Party build an energy strategy that meets energy demands, protects ratepayers and improves the competitiveness, reliability and the effectiveness of Alberta's electricity market."
"The Stelmach Tories have lost their way. A Wildrose government would understand that the true economic engine of this province is the entrepreneurs and employees who run companies that compete in the global marketplace," Smith concluded.
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ENERGY TASK FORCE BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Wildrose Energy Task Force will begin its work immediately and will begin working with experts, opinion leaders and members of the various energy industries to develop a working paper and recommendations for a Wildrose Energy Framework. Then, party members will be consulted and specific platform ideas will be discussed, debated and put to members for final approval. Wildrose will employ a variety of means to foster this policy development process, including meetings, events and online collaboration tools that will draw people together.
About David Yager
David Yager is a second generation Alberta oil worker who is currently Chairman and CEO of HSE Integrated Ltd., the largest Canadian supplier of health and safety services to petroleum and other industries, a position he has held for six years. He is also the current Chairman of the Petroleum Services Association of Canada. He has been an oilfield service entrepreneur since 1979 and HSE is his third successful company.
For the past 30 years he has been a journalist, analyst, advocate and commentator on the oil and gas industry and energy policy. Along with corporate activities, he has broad and unique understanding of all facets of the petroleum industry and the positive economic impact it has upon the economic success of Alberta and its citizens.
About David Gray
David Gray is a 20-year veteran of the electricity industry and has spent the last 10 years working in all aspects of Alberta's re-regulated utilities sector. For the last five years he has been the Executive Director of the Office of the Utilities Consumer Advocate and has participated in every utility rate hearing and every policy debate regarding utility energy policy.
David was an outspoken defender of the interests of consumers within government and appeared as a witness in many public hearings on utility matters. David is a qualified utility economics expert, graduated from the University of Calgary economics program and has two masters’ degrees in business. During his career he has undertaken generation and transmission planning, developed the regulated rate structures for electricity and natural gas, and saved consumers approximately $500 million in rate cases.
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