Even the Bush administration wouldn’t touch tar-sands oil

[n2doc]

BY SARAH LASKOW
23 SEP 2011 11:01 AM

Even if the Obama administration approves the Keystone XL pipeline, Canadians won't be able to sell the carbon-intensive tar-sands oil to one very big energy consumer: the Obama administration. Back in 2007, the federal government, under the leadership of George W. Bush, passed a law that forbade it from buying oil that's dirtier than conventional oil. And tar-sands oil is.

The Canadian government has been trying for years to wiggle its way around that restriction. The U.S Chamber of Commerce has also tried to free the Department of Defense from its shackles. But as of right now, the federal government is not actually allowed to buy the oil that Keystone XL would bring in.

There are other American customers for the oil. But it certainly feels like a self-contradictory, nonsensical policy to decide tar-sands oil is bad enough for the country that the government shouldn't use it, then have the government open up the spigot.


http://www.grist.org/list/2011-09-23-even-the-bush-administration-wouldnt-touch-tar-sands-oil

[Vincardog]

1. The TAR-oil is destined to sell to China

[OnlinePoker]

4. Only if Enbridge gets permission to build the pipeline to the central BC Coast

Believe me, we're fighting it tooth and nail. The tankers would go right through the Great Bear Rainforest and valuable fishing grounds all along the coast. Enbridge has had major issues with pipelines in the past, both in the States and here in Canada. If the feds allow this, it will be a travesty of democracy. I haven't heard of one person whose work isn't affiliated with the oil industry supporting this pipeline.

[customerserviceguy]

2. Can't believe that was for any kind of environmental reasons

It's more likely a case of Texas oilmen trying to keep Canadian tar-sand oil still unexploited, and they already owned Shrub.

[binarysunrise]

3. Can't believe that was for any kind of environmental reasons

That makes as much sense as anything.