Western Hemisphere Energy Security

Western Hemisphere energy security: hearing before the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the Committee on International Relations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, second session, March 2, 2006.

Western Hemisphere energy security : hearing before the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the Committee on International Relations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, second session, March 2, 2006.

In light of the rapid fluctuations in oil prices and subsequent impact on the stability and economic perspectives of energy producing and energy importing states in the Western Hemisphere, this book stresses the urgency to integrate sustainability at the very core of national energy security strategies. From Canada to Argentina, this edited volume analyzes a series of case studies and diverging paradigms across the continent. It underlines how the relatively recent exploitation of unconventional energy sources in North America and the resulting impact on prices impact the geopolitical concerns of traditional producers. It also explains how much energy strategies are central to the development of national economies and the stability of their society. Highlighting the shortcomings in several countries even at a time of high prices, the volume makes the case for an inclusive and holistic approach to energy security that would integrate environmental concerns at its very core. This edited volume also explains how this new energy independence of the western Hemisphere affects its foreign policy with the main international actors in the field of energy whether traditional producers or consumers. Finally, it provides key insights on successful strategy towards the development of alternative sources of energy.

Foreword / by Luis Alberto Moreno -- Introduction / Sidney Weintraub -- United States / Frank Verrastro -- Canada / Annette Hester and Sidney Weintraub -- Mexico / Sidney Weintraub and Rafael Fernández de Castro -- North America / Joseph M. Dukert -- Venezuela / Lowell R. Fleischer -- Colombia / Philip McLean -- Argentina / Thomas Andrew O'Keefe -- Brazil / Georges D. Landau -- Ecuador / Lowell R. Fleischer -- Peru / Carol Wise -- Bolivia / Peter DeShazo -- Trinidad and Tobago / Anthony T. Bryan -- Energy infrastructure in the Western hemisphere / Veronica R. Prado -- Environmental issues in Latin America and the Caribbean / José Leal and Joseluis Samaniego -- Hydrocarbon sector organization and regulation / Michelle Michot Foss, Miranda Ferrell Wainberg, and Dmitry Volkov -- China and India come to Latin America for energy / Wenran Jiang -- A 2025 perspective on oil and natural gas in the hemisphere / Alan Hegburg -- Conclusions and looking ahead / Sidney Weintraub.

This edited volume examines the impacts of the 2014-2015 decline in the price of oil. Participants will examine the economic, social and political consequences on states and regions, along with their responses. The following questions will be examined: what were the impacts for countries experiencing an energy revolution in shale and gas like the United States and Canada? What were the repercussions of the collapse on other states of the Western hemisphere dependent on oil for growth and development; countries like Colombia, Venezuela and Mexico? Were these outcomes similar to those experiences in other parts of world like Nigeria, Russia and other petro-producing countries? How do developing countries intend to cope with such drastic and sudden exogenous economic shock? Will there be any benefits for energy poor, consumer countries like China, India and European Union member states? Related to these issues are sustainable developmental questions and concerns about the environment. Will cheap oil force other alternative and renewable energy technologies out of the market given lack of competitiveness? Finally, the volume’s chapters will discuss prospects for governance in the new oil environment.