Public Policy Participation

We track proposed legislation so that we may advocate the company’s position when necessary. In doing so, we engage with governments at the state, provincial and federal levels in Canada and the U.S.

In 2009 and 2010, our key public policy issues include:

• The Role of Natural Gas: Natural gas is the cleanest conventional fuel, is domestically available, and is an increasingly vital, abundant source of energy that helps fuel the North American economy while achieving environmental and energy security goals. Canada is the single largest source of U.S. energy imports and roughly 98 percent of the natural gas we consume in the U.S. is produced in North America. Continued capital investments in North American natural gas infrastructure are increasingly critical.
• Global Climate Change: With the details far from ironclad on the legislative and regulatory fronts regarding greenhouse gas emissions, it is our goal to ensure that natural gas and innovative technologies associated with carbon capture and storage are recognized as part of the solution to a lower carbon economy. The design of any climate change program or policy will have significant relevance to Spectra Energy. It is important for us to have a voice in the discussions to help mitigate potential risks and costs associated with compliance.
• Regulatory Stability: A stable regulatory environment is critical to Spectra Energy’s ability to attract capital, maintain reliable operations, and pursue targeted expansion opportunities.  Our goal is to enhance our ability to build and maintain energy infrastructure in a manner that ensures reliable service for our customers and a superior return for our investors.  Part of that focus is raising the profile and contribution of natural gas and the infrastructure investment required. Aligning the need to develop critical energy infrastructure with regional, national, and continental interest will educate stakeholders and create opportunities to enhance the current regulatory model.
• Tax Policy: To address funding shortages at all levels of government, policymakers are eager to tap into new sources of revenue to fund operations and to affect policy priorities and behavioral change. In the face of proposed changes to the tax code, Spectra Energy is focused on preserving and advancing tax policies that promote investment in the development of North American natural gas infrastructure.