sustainability

Canadian Consul-General and Energy Council Delegation Begin 3-Day Visit to Northwest Arkansas

The Canadian Consul General for Arkansas, Norris Pettis, and members of The Energy Council will be in Northwest Arkansas Wednesday, July 16, through Friday, July 18. The visit, focused heavily on energy and sustainability initiatives, will include briefings by the University’s Center for Applied Sustainability, the National Center for Reliable Electric Power Transmission, the Center for Advanced Spatial Technology, Supply Chain Management Research Center, the RFID Research Center, the Community Design Center, the World Trade Center and discussions involving nanoscience advancements. The visit will also include meetings involving area corporate officials from Wal-Mart, Tyson Foods, and JB Hunt, as well as discussions with local political figures and a presentation to the Fayetteville Rotarians.

Delegation members visiting Northwest Arkansas include the Honorable Nathan George, Arkansas State Representative (D-AR), vice chairman of the Arkansas Energy Committee and chairman of the Energy Council’s private sector affiliate, the Center for Energy and Environmental Research (CLEER); Lori Cameron, executive director for the Energy Council and CLEER; David J. Manning, former deputy energy minister for Alberta, and executive vice president for U.S. external affairs at international energy provider, National Grid and CLEER board member; and John W. Ahlen, president of the Arkansas Science & Technology Authority.  Joining the Consul General on behalf of the Canadian Consulate will be Rod Johnson, Consul and senior trade commissioner and Henry W. Wells, political and economic relations officer for the Canadian Consulate General, Dallas.

“As one of the five founding states of the Energy Council dating back to 1975, we are honored to welcome the Consul General and this distinguished delegation of energy leaders to discuss these areas of mutual interest and the impressive strides in energy and sustainability occurring at the University and across this region,” said Kim Randle, director of corporate and foundation relations at the University of Arkansas. “Canada is currently the largest supplier to the United States of oil, natural gas, electricity and uranium and a crucial trading partner for Arkansas, while the Energy Council’s states represent more than 80 percent of the oil and gas production in the United States. Six Canadian provinces are now international affiliates of The Energy Council.”

Pettis was appointed Canada's Consul General in Dallas, Texas, in the summer of 2006. The mission of the Consul General includes political relations with federal and state elected leaders; business development and investment relations in key economic sectors; academic and cultural relations; and consular services to Canadian citizens.  A former military officer, Pettis has more than 13 years of executive level management experience. His charge is to represent Canada's interests in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.  “We are looking forward to the visit to Northwest Arkansas, a region with strong economic ties to Canada,” Pettis said.

The Energy Council and CLEER participate in the development of federal energy and environmental policy; assists the organizations’ members and affiliates in developing such policies; and encourages dialogue on energy and related environmental issues at all levels—local to global.