Despite claims to the contrary from the Canadian government, all evidence shows that Keystone XL and the continued expansion of Alberta’s tar sands would have disastrous environmental consequences.

 

Keystone XL Pipeline Pollution is Out of Control, Evidence Says

Despite claims to the contrary from the Canadian government (Keystone XL Pipeline Pollution Is Manageable, Harper Says), all evidence shows that Keystone XL and the continued expansion of Alberta’s tar sands would have disastrous environmental consequences.
Harper Says:
The project’s “environmental impacts are manageable and not significant.”
Evidence Says:
Keystone XL will add 1.2 billion metric tons of additional carbon pollution over the pipeline’s 50-year lifetime, compared to the equivalent amount of traditional crude.
The mining process in Alberta has already caused significant destruction to the land.
Tar sands are significantly more carbon intensive than traditional crude oil burned in the United States. The State Department concluded that it was 17% more carbon intensive.
Harper Says:
“The project will enhance energy security for North America.”
Evidence Says:
The Keystone XL refineries are already exporting 60 percent of their gasoline, plus 40% of their diesel output and 95% of their petroleum coke.
Oil is sold on the global marketplace. In a Congressional hearing, TransCanada’s Alex Pourbaix refused to guarantee that the oil would stay in the U.S.
According to Oil Change International, “tar sands producers plan to exploit a loophole in U.S. crude oil export regulations and export tar sands crude oilinto the global market from U.S. ports.  The Keystone XL pipeline unlocks this loophole.”
The United States is now a net exporter of oil-product. From the WSJ: “U.S. oil production has grown and demand has stagnated. As a result, U.S. refineries are increasingly cranking out gasoline, diesel and jet fuel for overseas markets, in particular Latin America. U.S. exports of refined products have nearly tripled since 2005, according to government data, and the U.S. became a net exporter of those products in 2011.”
For more information, contact:
Daniel Kessler, dk@350.org