Ahead of the 2025 North American Gas Forum in Washington, D.C., Dec 1-3, TC Energy‘s EVP and Chief Operating Officer of Natural Gas Pipelines, Tina Faraca, joins Energy Dialogues for a speaker preview interview.

In this conversation, Tina explains why North America is entering a new era of natural gas demand and how integration across Canada, the United States and Mexico will shape the continent’s competitiveness in global energy markets.

This interview is part of the Energy Dialogues Speaker Series and our commitment to fostering open, solutions focused conversations across the energy value chain. As we build toward the North American Gas Forum, we’re connecting early with leaders and innovators who will help shape the discussions in Washington, D.C. this fall.

Tina, thanks for joining us for this preview to the North American Gas Forum. Recently, we’ve seen a significant shift in conversation about energy. What’s driving that shift?

North America is experiencing a generational surge in energy demand. This isn’t incremental growth—it’s a fundamental reshaping of the energy landscape driven by electrification, coal-to-gas conversions, the rise of AI and data centers, and expanding LNG exports. Electricity demand is soaring, and natural gas is the backbone fuel meeting that need.

Over the past four years, North American natural gas demand grew from about 110 Bcf/day in 2020 to 125 Bcf/day in 2024. We forecast demand could reach 170 Bcf/day by 2035. Data centers and coal conversions alone could add 11–15 Bcf/day in the U.S. by 2035.

This unprecedented demand is driving a new era of energy pragmatism. Tech companies, policymakers and industries increasingly recognize that natural gas is essential to meeting climate goals and powering innovation. Affordability, reliability and energy security are now front and center—and all of it depends on infrastructure. You don’t get more energy without more pipelines.

As the only energy company with assets and operations in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, from your vantage point, how does deeper integration of these markets enhance North American competitiveness?

Energy doesn’t stop at borders, and our strategy shouldn’t either. North America’s natural gas system is deeply interconnected—all three countries import and export gas across the continent. That integration is what gives us a competitive edge.

At TC Energy, we move 30 per cent of the continent’s natural gas every day. Our pipelines support LNG exports from all three coasts, linking abundant North American supply to global markets. By treating North America as one connected system, we unlock efficiencies, resilience and long-term energy security.

Navigating three regulatory environments is no small feat—especially under shifting political and trade environments. How does that impact your investment decisions?

We invest where we can build with certainty and deliver the greatest returns for our investors. Predictability is key—we look for jurisdictions with streamlined permitting and consistent regulatory frameworks.

We’re seeing real momentum across North America, especially in the U.S., where bipartisan support and federal reforms are helping projects move forward faster, while upholding environmental standards. Canada’s Major Projects Office and Plan Mexico also signal growing alignment of energy infrastructure with energy affordability, reliability and security . Our strategy will continue to prioritize environments that enable—rather than obstruct—the development of critical infrastructure.

How do we ensure our natural gas infrastructure keeps pace with rising demand while maintaining affordability and reliability across North America?

We need to build now—or risk losing a transformational opportunity for North America. Natural gas demand is outpacing infrastructure, and that gap threatens affordability and reliability. If gas can’t reach load centers, prices spike, outages follow, and critical investments—like data centers and LNG export projects—will go elsewhere. Other countries are ready to compete for these opportunities.

To keep pace, we need decisive action—and the most urgent lever we can pull is modernizing permitting. We need streamlined reviews, clearer timelines and better inter-agency coordination to unlock investment. Infrastructure is the backbone of affordability, and without new pipelines, we cannot deliver the energy communities need or the economy demands.

What’s your vision for North America’s role in global energy markets, and how can companies like TC Energy work across borders to ensure the continent remains a leader in responsible, reliable energy supply?

North America is already a global energy leader, and we can’t afford to fall behind. LNG exports are central to that leadership. The U.S. is the largest exporter, Canada has opened its first West Coast terminal, and Mexico is expanding its LNG footprint. With global LNG demand expected to surge, we have a time-bound opportunity to solidify our leadership.

We need to leverage North America’s integrated energy system to deliver reliable, affordable energy to our own markets and to the world. Our infrastructure connects the continent’s most abundant supply basins to global markets, giving us a cost advantage—often up to three times less than in Europe or Asia. That price gap strengthens our industries and allies in a competitive global economy.

But if we fail to build, we risk losing that advantage—and ceding ground to less stable suppliers. Other countries are ready to capture these opportunities. By continuing to work across borders, advocate for pragmatic policy, and accelerate infrastructure development, we can power global progress and reinforce energy security for decades to come.