I read with dismay the piece written by Charles Frank in Saturday’s Calgary Herald (“Dirty Oil” bill all bark and no bite, September 27, 2008). It was an all- too-familiar twisting of the truth that makes it more difficult for the people of Alberta to understand how the U.S. views Alberta’s oil sands and the pollution generated in its production and refining.

Section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act was signed into law by President Bush last December. This provision bars all – not just “certain” — federal agencies from contracting for unconventional fuels, like the oil sands, that have higher greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels. While the law will not require an Air Force fighter pilot fueling up in Calgary to fill out “Section 526 compliance forms.” it does require the Air Force to evaluate greenhouse gas implications before entering into contracts with refineries. Canada, as a country deeply concerned about global warming, should be happy that the United States is finally taking first steps towards controlling greenhouse gas emissions.

If Section 526 is “all bark and no bite,” then why the firestorm of protest from the Canadian government?

Instead of deriding this victory, Alberta should focus on the impact this has on the oil sands’ largest single purchaser and the signal it sends to businesses around the world. Albertans would be better served by their governments if they actually got to work on controlling the oil sands’ global warming pollution.

Liz Barratt-Brown, Natural Resources Defense Council