Powering Our Nations
Canadian energy is critical to the U.S. economy and its competitiveness, especially as we face an energy crisis exacerbated by Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine. Canada is the largest supplier of energy to the U.S., supplying 61% of crude oil imports in 2021, and 98% of natural gas imports, 93% of electricity imports and 28% of uranium purchases in 2020. Carried by 71 oil and gas pipelines and 35 transmission lines across our shared border, our secure, reliable and sustainably produced energy powers millions of homes and businesses in communities across the U.S. and supports hundreds of thousands of job opportunities on both sides of the border. Energy from Canada – more than from any other country – contributes directly to U.S. economic prosperity, security and environmental objectives.
The U.S. has committed to a number of sustainable energy objectives, like a carbon-pollution-free power sector by 2035, proposing new methane rules to slash those emissions by 74% by 2035, reaching 50% sales of zero-emission vehicles by 2030, and cutting overall greenhouse gas emissions by 50 to 52% by 2030. Now more than ever, we need to accelerate the transition to clean and reliable sources of energy to stabilize access to long-term energy and autonomy and to reduce emissions. With our highly integrated energy systems and with our increasing climate ambition, Canada can help the U.S. get there. Canada has the third-largest crude oil reserves in the world and Canadian oil is among the most responsibly sourced in the world. New measures in Canada’s Emissions Reduction Plan could help reduce emissions from our oil and gas sector by about 42% from current levels by 2030. We are also developing a cap on oil and gas emissions for 2023. This cap will be designed to lower emissions at a pace and scale needed to achieve net zero by mid-century and reduce oil and gas-related methane emissions by at least 75% by 2030. As the largest supplier of energy to the U.S., cutting emissions from oil and gas production in Canada will have a material downstream impact south of the border.
Canada is also investing in new technologies and infrastructure to be a global leader in clean energy and innovation. We are taking a balanced approach to developing our energy resources; one that creates prosperity, while reducing emissions and preserving the environment.
Canada also produces a lot of renewable energy, like hydropower. Our electricity grid is already 80% non-emitting, and we are aiming to get to net zero by 2035. Canada is developing a Clean Electricity Standard and increasing investments in emerging technologies like geothermal and tidal power, hydrogen, small modular reactors, carbon capture, utilization and storage, and electricity storage. Our electricity exports contribute to U.S. emissions reductions objectives and can balance other variable renewables on our integrated grid.
The U.S.-Canada Energy Trade Map, produced in partnership with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, illustrates the scale of the bilateral energy relationship, as well as its economic value at both the state and provincial levels.