Natural Resources committee  Thank you very much, sir. I understand that your question comes in two parts. The first part is, is there a role for NRCan to play? Absolutely. NRCan has some of the most well-informed and educated thermal geoscientists in the country, and we've always enjoyed their participation in the geothermal sector and would like to continue to do so.

Natural Resources committee  I would define what's good for the public sector as being good for Canada and whatever creates a net benefit for the country. If the development of the geothermal sector, through some seeding efforts of the Canadian government—similar, for instance, to what we saw in the wind market—are to the net benefit of the country, I would define benefit that way, if you will.

Natural Resources committee  I'd like to clarify something about Dr. Moore's study: he's not actually a member of CanGEA, he's a member of the ISEEE Group. However, he's a very august member of the geothermal community. With regard to his conclusion, yes, he is advocating that Canada engage in a significant mapping exercise.

Natural Resources committee  This may not be part of your briefing notes. In the intervening period, Shell has essentially backed away from the oil sands. It has reduced its contingent in Calgary with regard to heavy oil by approximately 90%. It's just maintaining its existing plants. With regard to use of geothermal energy in the oil sands, it really was an inverted application, where it would be applied in a cooling function, to recapture the energy that comes up with the hot oil or hot bitumen in the separation phase.

Natural Resources committee  Mr. Leef, thank you. It's almost as if you've planted the witness. I've done a geothermal study for the Takhini Hot Springs for David Morrison of the Yukon Energy Corporation. I've also been retained by the Na-Cho Nyak Dun to examine the geothermal potential of Mayo. I can unequivocally state that using current technologies, the supply side for electrical power in those regions using geothermal ranges between 11¢ and 13¢ per kilowatt hour, depending upon the development scenario.

Natural Resources committee  On behalf of the Canadian Geothermal Energy Association or CanGEA, I would like to thank the chair and the committee for the opportunity to address this issue before them today. As noted, my name is Tim Thompson. I am the CEO of Borealis GeoPower, one of the few geothermal companies operating in Canada and a founding member of CanGEA.