The city of Edmonton, Canada, has unveiled its CAN$2.3bn (US$2.27bn, £1.4bn, 1.6bn euro) bid for Expo 2017.

The Expo 2017 Bid Committee recently showcased its bid at this year's Shanghai Expo and its proposed theme is Energy and Our Planet.

Randy Ferguson, a member of the committee, said: "We want to initiate a global discussion on this critical issue, as well as challenge people around the world to think about energy differently.

"We want people to think about energy in the broadest sense including human, intellectual, creative, and other kinds of energy."

Since May's announcement of support from the Government of Alberta, the Edmonton EXPO 2017 team has focused its efforts on developing the international bid, which will be submitted to the Bureau International des Expos in June 2011.

Alberta's premier Ed Stelmach said: "Let's show the world how we've used the proceeds of the blessings of energy, agriculture and forestry to create a quality of life that's second to none - where education and healthcare lead the nation. We should be proud to show how our investments in health sciences, engineering, life science research are benefiting Albertans, Canadians and in fact people around the world."

The main site for the Expo is the University of Alberta's south campus, as well as the west Rossdale area and the east legislature grounds. If the bid is successful, it could also form part of Canada's 150th birthday celebrations.

The committee hopes that the Expo would accelerate infrastructure investment and would support the university's efforts to become a 21st century, world class place of learning.

The Canadian government will reveal whether it too will back the bid in the autumn.