There is a lot of information circulating about Canada’s oil sands, not all of which is accurate. As Mainers examine this issue, it is important that this be done objectively, and based on fact and science. There are also numerous environmental, economic, security and safety dimensions to consider, all of which deserve a closer look.

Canada recognizes that we need to move toward a lower carbon energy economy. We are working with our American partners toward our shared goals of lower carbon emissions and a reduced reliance on fossil fuels. However this transition will take time and the world will need oil for decades to come. The governments of Canada and Alberta are focused on investing in new technologies to improve environmental performance, and to developing our natural resources while simultaneously strengthening environmental protection. We reject the notion that you can’t do both at the same time.

Canada is developing the oil sands as a strategic resource that contributes to North American energy security. Canada has the third-largest proven oil reserves in the world, the bulk of which are in the Alberta oil sands, which supply more than 15 percent of all U.S. imported oil. At a time when there is so much volatility in the world – in energy-producing countries with weaker environmental protection regimes ? Canada is a reliable neighbor that can help meet U.S. demands. All told, it is estimated that oil sands development could contribute up to $15.3 billion per year to the American GDP between now and 2035 and could support up to 170,000 U.S. jobs annually during the same period.

Development of oil sands is subject to world-leading environmental reviews before approval and extensive environmental monitoring and reporting throughout the life of each project.

Further, the oil sands account for just 0.1 percent of global emissions. Thanks to ongoing technological advances, 63 percent of Canada’s electricity is generated from renewable resources. Oil sands projects have comparable greenhouse gas emissions to other crudes, both light and heavy, from California, Nigeria and Venezuela to name a few.

Another fact: Only 20 percent of oil sands oil is close enough to the surface to be extracted by mining. The remaining 80 percent is extractable by pumping steam into the ground and recovering the oil from wells. Compared to surface mining, this extraction offers reduced land impacts and no tailings ponds. The governments of Canada and Alberta, along with private industry, continue to develop and invest in new processes and technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the oil sands. Both our countries also recognize carbon capture and storage as a key technology available to significantly mitigate emissions.

Another fact: The total area of the oil sands that is accessible through surface mining represents just 0.2 percent of Canada’s boreal forest. Reports that exaggerate this are inaccurate. Companies must also remediate and reclaim 100 percent of the land after the oil sands have been extracted; it must be returned to a self-sustaining boreal forest ecosystem with local vegetation and wildlife. The government of Canada is working directly with First Nations and Me?tis communities to address and manage the impacts of oil sands development on their communities. In fact, many aboriginal groups are active participants in the development of the oil sands region.

Another fact: Study after study has proven that the often-cited claims that diluted bitumen from the oil sands is more corrosive in pipelines are false. Both scientific research and industrial experience have determined that bitumen-derived crude is no more corrosive in transmission pipelines than other crudes. Pipelines are the safest and most efficient method of transporting large volumes of crude oil and petroleum products over long distances. There is simply no evidence that transporting oil sands crude poses a greater risk to pipeline safety in comparison to other crudes.

Important scientific work is also being conducted by the government of Canada on what might happen if diluted bitumen is spilled in a marine environment. A report was issued in January 2014 and research continues to advance, which will ultimately strengthen the ability to plan for, and respond to, potential marine emergencies involving these products.

Canada is the largest and most secure, reliable and competitive energy supplier to the United States. We have a diverse energy portfolio that includes traditional resources such as oil, gas and uranium, but are also a world leader in the production and use of renewable energy resources such as hydropower, wind and tidal, which provide about 17 percent of Canada’s total primary energy supply. Along with a $3.6 billion annual cross-border trade relationship with Canada, energy partnerships between Maine and Eastern Canada are numerous and bring benefits to both regions.

The bottom line is that Canada’s oil sands crude production is highly regulated and is a responsible, safe, and secure resource which is helping to meet North America’s energy needs.

Pat Binns serves as Consul General of Canada to New England.