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Rep. Waxman Statement on Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline
Rep. Waxman Statement on Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline
Jan 25, 2013 Issues: Energy & Environment
WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman released the following statement clarifying his position on the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline:
“Yesterday I was quoted as saying that the Keystone decision is "a small issue compared to the overall objective" of combating climate change. While I was quoted accurately, what I meant to say has been misinterpreted.
“What I was trying to say is that our climate policy must be much bigger and more ambitious than just rejecting the Keystone pipeline. EPA should issue emission standards that reduce carbon pollution from both new and old power plants, as well as other major sources of carbon pollution. The Department of Energy should tighten energy efficiency standards. The State Department should negotiate a phase-out of HFCs as part of the Montreal Protocol. Many other steps are also necessary.
“My views on the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline have not changed. In fact, my opposition to the pipeline has intensified as the scientific evidence mounts that the impacts of both climate change and the pipeline itself are likely to be even worse than we have expected.
...
Using tar sands produces far more carbon pollution than conventional oil. That means a massive expansion of tar sands production is a huge step backwards on climate when the imperative of moving forward on climate has never been clearer. Just last week, a new report from the Pembina Institute, based in part on analyses by Canadian banks, confirmed that Keystone XL is critical to expanding tar sands production, which the oil companies plan to almost triple. I have opposed this reckless project from the beginning and I continue to strongly urge the President to reject it.”
from http://waxman.house.gov/rep-waxman-statement-keystone-xl-tar-sands-pipeline
“Yesterday I was quoted as saying that the Keystone decision is "a small issue compared to the overall objective" of combating climate change. While I was quoted accurately, what I meant to say has been misinterpreted.
“What I was trying to say is that our climate policy must be much bigger and more ambitious than just rejecting the Keystone pipeline. EPA should issue emission standards that reduce carbon pollution from both new and old power plants, as well as other major sources of carbon pollution. The Department of Energy should tighten energy efficiency standards. The State Department should negotiate a phase-out of HFCs as part of the Montreal Protocol. Many other steps are also necessary.
“My views on the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline have not changed. In fact, my opposition to the pipeline has intensified as the scientific evidence mounts that the impacts of both climate change and the pipeline itself are likely to be even worse than we have expected.
...
Using tar sands produces far more carbon pollution than conventional oil. That means a massive expansion of tar sands production is a huge step backwards on climate when the imperative of moving forward on climate has never been clearer. Just last week, a new report from the Pembina Institute, based in part on analyses by Canadian banks, confirmed that Keystone XL is critical to expanding tar sands production, which the oil companies plan to almost triple. I have opposed this reckless project from the beginning and I continue to strongly urge the President to reject it.”
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