Peter Lougheed, the former Alberta premier who shaped the province into an energy powerhouse, is dead at the age of 84.
   
His family says Lougheed died in a Calgary hospital of natural causes after months of illness.
   
His term as Alberta's premier from 1971 to '85 started a Progressive Conservative dynasty that governs Alberta to this day.
   
Lougheed boosted royalties on oil and gas, and used the money toimprove Albertans' quality of life, including building hospitals.
   
Nationally, he became famous for his clashes with the Liberal government of then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau on oil royalties.