Alberta miffed that some U.S. retailers are boycotting or avoiding oilsands oil

EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach is miffed at some U.S. retailers for saying they will boycott oilsands-derived fuel or encourage their suppliers to use low-carbon alternatives.

"Unfortunately, these retailers have chosen a course of action without first talking to us about our environmental commitment and the efforts of thousands of Albertans working for government, industry and academic institutions to reduce the impact of oilsands development,” Stelmach said in a release Friday.

On Thursday, Walgreens announced that it will no longer buy fuel for its transportation fleet that is derived from the oilsands. The Gap, Timberland and Levi Strauss also said they will either give preference to suppliers who use low-carbon fuels or encourage their transportation providers to do so.

The premier says he intends to send a letter to the CEO of each of the corporations.

Stelmach said Alberta is the only jurisdiction in North America with mandatory greenhouse gas emission reduction targets for large emitters.

"As a government, we intend to show what others will not — that we are responsible energy developers. We are also ready and willing to discuss their concerns."

An Edmonton business group also reacted angrily Friday to the U.S. retailers' decision, calling for a boycott of their products in retaliation.

Alberta Enterprise Group Tim Shipton said companies such as the Gap create greenhouse gas emissions by shipping their products long distances.

"It's high time to say, 'no way,' " Shipton said in a release.

Meanwhile, Greenpeace spokesman Mike Hudema said industry and government should respond by making changes.

"PR campaigns aren't going to stem the tide of companies and individuals turning away from this devastating industy," he said.

The environmental group Forest Ethics says it will continue lobbying other Fortune 500 corporations in the U.S. to turn their backs on oilsands oil.

Last February, organic grocer Whole Foods and retailer Bed, Bath and Beyond also announced policies for encouraging their transport contractors to reduce their carbon footprint.

A spokesman for Forest Ethics said the campaign is part of "the financial war" over the oilsands.

A coalition of environmental groups is also funding the so-called Rethink Alberta campaign. That effort involves billboards across the U.S. and England that target Alberta's tourism industry. The message is that Alberta is threatening its natural beauty by the way it regulates resource development.

Industry and the Alberta government have responded with campaigns of their own, spending millions on TV and print ads detailing the hundreds of millions of dollars being spent on problems such as cleaning up the oilsands tailing ponds