The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that Alberta's energy sector spent $30.9-billion to develop oil, gas, hydrogen, geothermal, helium and lithium resources in 2024, according to a new report, a nine-year high. The Globe's Emma Graney writes that the 2025 Alberta Energy Outlook, released Wednesday by the province's energy regulator, highlights rising bitumen output and a significant increase in Alberta's oil and gas reserves estimates. The report comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney pushes for Canada to become an energy superpower -- a message and a goal that the energy sector says it can get behind. The premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan are also using Mr. Carney's target to push for pipelines and trade corridors to further expand market access. Total Alberta oil production continued to rise in 2024, owing to favourable oil prices and the expanded Trans Mountain pipeline system coming on-line. In 2024, Alberta's raw crude bitumen production was close to 3.6 million barrels a day, a 4-per-cent increase from 2023, according to the report. Natural gas production also increased -- albeit by a marginal 0.2 per cent -- despite lower prices. Carbon capture remains a priority for the federal Liberals.