Protest is Swirling around Possible New Pipeline. But What Are The Environmental Impacts?
Huge controversy surrounds Keystone X.L., TransCanada’s proposed pipeline that would transport oil from the Canadian Tar Sand deposits to refineries in Illinois, Oklahoma, and the Gulf of Mexico.
A large number of environmental groups and land owners oppose the pipeline and have been staging protests around the country, including at the White House. Over 1,300 people have been arrested in anti-pipeline protests.
There is no doubt that tar-sand oil carries steep environmental costs. Extraction will leave a growing scar on the boreal wilderness of Alberta, depleting and polluting the MacKenzie River. There are serious concerns that the pipeline will compromise groundwater. And the oil produced will be dirtier than traditional crude.
This is because it takes a lot of energy to refine and transport tar-sand oil. As a result, if you fill your car with tar sand-derived gas, you will emit 15% more carbon dioxide per unit energy than conventional gas. If you are concerned about global warming, tar-sand oil is not for you.
But, is blocking the pipeline the way to address this problem? It prevents the supply of oil to consumers. And if we don’t import the oil, chances are good that Canadians will just ship it elsewhere.
It would seem better to tackle the demand-side of the equation. If we used less oil, the price of oil from the tar sands would fall below its production costs, and no one would be interested in selling it.
We can tackle demand in a variety of ways – ranging from higher fuel efficiency standards for cars, to a carbon tax. Working with major automakers in unprecedented agreement, the Obama administration recently raised the fuel efficiency or CAFÉ standards for the U.S. auto fleet.
A carbon tax, supported by a wide variety of corporations and investment bankers, is another way to lower demand for oil, wean our country from foreign sources, and transition to a new future of clean energy.
Photo credit: Arthur Chapman/via Flickr