In a paper released today, the Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) recommends cross-border cooperation to enhance electricity supply, transmission, and to address key environmental issues.

The paper, entitled: "Investment in Electricity Infrastructure and Supply: A North American Concern", was released at the 5th Cross-Border Forum on Energy Issues sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars and the Canadian Centre for Energy Information. CEA was a partner of the forum and executives from member companies across Canada were participants.

Hans Konow, CEA president and CEO, noted that "with the Energy Policy Act now in place, and a new government in Canada determined to improve bilateral relations between the United States and Canada, an opportunity exists for all stakeholders to come together and identify how best to address common concerns facing the integrated market."

Konow also said that "both Canada and the United States are looking at significant new supply and replacement of existing supply requirements in the next 10-20 years. New transmission investments are even more urgently required, and all of this needs to be done in a manner consistent with our environmental obligations and commitments."

CEA releases a paper on Canada-U.S. electricity issues each spring in Washington, and takes the opportunity to meet with U.S. decision-makers. CEA participated in a luncheon with U.S. Energy Secretary, the Honorable Samuel W. Bodman and met with FERC Chairman Joseph Kelliher and other senior decision-makers in conjunction with the release of this year's paper.