A top U.S. industry economist predicted Thursday that the United States could become 100 percent self-sufficient in terms of energy production in 12 years.

Addressing about 300 people attending an energy forum in Houston, John Felmy, chief economist for the American Petroleum Institute, said the country needs to take advantage of national drilling opportunities and crude resources in Canada to achieve its self-reliance.

Felmy said environmentalists and politicians need to "embrace the resources we have available."

Environmentalists should support the Keystone pipeline that connects Canada's oil sands to refineries around Houston and the Gulf of Mexico, as the pipeline has low shipping emissions, said Felmy.

The 2012 Houston Energy Forum was hosted by the Houston Business Journal for industry insiders to discuss the future of America's energy independence.

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