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The following statement was issued today by Honourable Lloyd Matthews. It was also read in the House of Assembly: Energy Council Visit I rise in the House today to advise honourable members that Ms. Lori Cameron, the Executive Director of the Energy Council of America and Ms. Kelli Robinson, the Energy Council�s meeting co-ordinator, are visiting the province from Dallas, Texas and are seated in the Speaker�s Gallery this afternoon. They are accompanied by Ms. Beverly Wiseman of the Department of Mines and Energy. The Energy Council is a legislative organization of ten energy-producing states ranging from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean. These member states produce more than 80 per cent of U.S oil and gas output and include leading coal, uranium, and renewable energy-producing states. The province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the province of Alberta and the nation of Venezuela are the Energy Council�s three international affiliates. United by a common interest in energy resources, the elected legislators of the council participate in the formation of energy policy at all levels. Northeastern natural gas supplies and electric transmission constraints are two major examples of energy infrastructure concerns being raised throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic regions. The energy concerns of the northeast, one of the biggest consumer markets in the United States, are of interest to anyone involved with domestic energy issues and particularly to Newfoundland and Labrador as we are poised to become a major energy supplier to this region. Building upon their National Energy Strategy work in the United States and the emerging role of Newfoundland and Labrador as an energy supplier, and recognizing the energy concerns of the northeast, the Energy Council and the Center for Legislative Energy and Environmental Research (CLEER), the research arm of the Energy Council, will hold a collegial dialogue in St. John�s this summer. The council and CLEER will host the Northeastern Energy Forum 2002 on August 24-27 at the Fairmont Hotel. To successfully plan for the forum, Ms. Lori Cameron and Ms. Kelli Robinson will be attending meetings with the Department of Mines and Energy and with various stakeholders today and tomorrow. This conference will provide the province with new exposure to potential energy markets. We are hopeful that this will encourage new investment in our energy sector and attract new exploration interest in our offshore area. I ask that honourable members give Ms. Cameron and Ms. Robinson a warm Newfoundland and Labrador welcome to our fine province and wish them two days of successful meetings. 2002 05 02 2:15 p.m.
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