Different Route, Same Crap
The tar sands industry is trying to get its oil out of western Canada in all kinds of ways (all bad).
Tar sands fuel is not your average fuel. It releases 17 percent more greenhouse gases than the typical oil refined in the United States. An estimated 168 billion barrels of this oil lies beneath western Canada, and the Canadian government wants to send it to market. The cheapest way for it to get there is via pipeline. That's why the tar sands industry wants the Keystone XL pipeline so badly, but while energy companies wait for the Obama administration to decide the project's fate, they're looking for other avenues to move their crude. At least four pipelines have been in the works—and are facing stiff political opposition—to shuttle tar sands oil east, west, and south to the Gulf of Mexico.
None of these proposed pipelines are a good idea, because they would encourage even more tar sands development. And let's face it: The best way to avoid irreversible climate change is to keep fossil fuels in the ground—especially the extra dirty ones.
onEarth provides reporting and analysis about environmental science, policy, and culture. All opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of NRDC. Learn more or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.