North American energy issues in focus at Rice’s Baker Institute Sept. 24

MEDIA ADVISORY

David Ruth
david@rice.edu
713-348-6327

Jeff Falk
jfalk@rice.edu
713-348-6775

Americas Society/Council of the Americas
Media Relations Office
mediarelations@as-coa.org
212-277-8384 or 212-277-8333

North American energy issues in focus at Rice’s Baker Institute Sept. 24

HOUSTON – (Sept. 15, 2015) – As Canada prepares to host the 2015 North American Leaders’ Summit this fall, a Sept. 24 public forum at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy will explore pressing energy infrastructure and integration issues facing the United States, Canada and Mexico. Speakers and panelists will include energy industry executives, government officials and academic experts representing the three countries.

The event is jointly organized by the Baker Institute’s Center for Energy Studies and its Mexico Center and the Council of the Americas. Public registration is now closed, but media can still attend by RSVPing to Jeff Falk (see below).

Who: Zin Smati, president and CEO of GDFSuez North America, will give the opening keynote.

Edward Djerejian, director of the Baker Institute, and Rob Mosbacher, chairman of Mosbacher Energy Co., will give welcoming remarks.

What: A forum titled “North America in Global Energy Markets: Infrastructure and Integration.”

When: Thursday, Sept. 24, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. The opening keynote is at 9 a.m.

Where: Rice University, Baker Hall, Doré Commons, 6100 Main St.

At the 2014 North American Leaders’ Summit (NALS), the heads of government of the United States, Mexico and Canada proposed enhanced cooperation on several key elements of North American competitiveness, including energy and trade-related infrastructure. One year later, as Canada prepares to host the 2015 NALS, what progress has been made on these two issues?

The oil sands in Canada, the shale revolution in the United States and energy reforms in Mexico have repositioned North America in global oil and gas markets, according to event organizers. Integration of energy systems is critical to achieving the full potential of North American resource abundance, as it boosts regional competitiveness by lowering costs and facilitating flow of both physical and human capital. Cross-border energy coordination is beneficial to all three countries, but the challenge is to identify siting and financing mechanisms for energy infrastructure investment, organizers said. This forum will further explore these issues in the context of trilateral cooperation at the North American Leaders’ Summit.

This event will be webcast live at http://bakerinstitute.org/events/1731.

Members of the news media who want to attend should RSVP to Jeff Falk, associate director of national media relations at Rice, at jfalk@rice.edu or 713-348-6775 or to Adriana La Rotta, senior director of media relations at Americas Society/Council of the Americas, at mediarelations@as-coa.org or 212-277-8384.

For a map of Rice University’s campus with parking information, go to www.rice.edu/maps. Media are advised to park in the Central Campus Garage.

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Founded in 1993, Rice University’s Baker Institute ranks among the top 10 university-affiliated think tanks in the world. As a premier nonpartisan think tank, the institute conducts research on domestic and foreign policy issues with the goal of bridging the gap between the theory and practice of public policy. The institute’s strong track record of achievement reflects the work of its endowed fellows, Rice University faculty scholars and staff, coupled with its outreach to the Rice student body through fellow-taught classes — including a public policy course — and student leadership and internship programs. Learn more about the institute at www.bakerinstitute.org or on the institute’s blog, http://blogs.chron.com/bakerblog.

Council of the Americas is the premier international business organization whose members share a common commitment to economic and social development, open markets, the rule of law and democracy throughout the Western Hemisphere.