[Fozzie_DeBear]

Good post Igniter...and the point that oil will still be needed for plastics is valid. As is the future of NG (Natural gas)

However, when one considers the impact of a ~1m barrel a day swing in supply/demand can have on prices. I'm still very concerned about the economic future of oil, no matter how much cleaner/economical it gets.

IMHO, the key for Alberta is to take all the technology, capital, skills, infrastructure etc that has been directed at the oil sands and consider how to encourage it to 'spillover' into non-oil applications. It is important to keep improving the oil production techniques while there still is a lucrative market, but FFS make diversification a priority.