Finding common ground: How four Alberta community groups apply the concept of synergy in response to oil and gas development

In 2002, Synergy Alberta was initiated by the Alberta Energy and Utilities Board and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers as an umbrella organization for groups responding to the recent unprecedented rates of oil and gas development. This thesis presents a qualitative analysis of interviews with 22 people from four such groups as well as Synergy Alberta itself. The participants construct the risks of oil and gas development in interaction with lay and professional sources of knowledge from within and outside their group membership. Multi-stakeholder groups readily accept the synergy process as a way of mitigating risks and engaging the public, influencing groups to adopt the process for themselves as an alternative to forming coalition groups in opposition to certain developments. Some members of community-based groups dispute the applicability of the term "synergy group" to their group because of its connotation of strong oil and gas industry involvement, but many find advantages in the networking opportunities that Synergy Alberta provides. This "synergy movement" does possess the characteristics of a social movement and has a strong counter-movement orientation. Synergy is also business philosophy that has gained popularity with oil and gas companies in recent years in response to vocal public demands for input into decisions regarding oil and gas development. As a result interest groups on all sides of the synergy debate are shaping the movement.