Posted on 06/25/2013 2:09:51 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
The Keystone XL pipeline will not be built unless it can be shown that it will not lead to a net increase in carbon emissions, President Barack Obama declared in a major Tuesday speech on climate change at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. While appearing to appease environmentalists, the announcement could mean that the project will move forward.
"Allowing the Keystone pipeline to be built requires a finding that doing so would be in our national interest," he said. "And our national interest will be served only if this project does not significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution. The net effects of the pipeline's impact on our climate will be absolutely critical to determining whether this project is allowed to go forward."
If completed, the Keystone pipeline will carry oil from Alberta, Canada, to refineries in the Gulf Coast. Environmental activists have urged Obama to kill the project, arguing that it will exacerbate climate change and could damage environmentally sensitive areas. Supporters of the pipeline have argued it will boost the economy by providing jobs for the construction of the pipeline and by lowering the costs of energy once the pipeline is complete.
While Obama's announcement came in an ostensibly pro-environmentalist speech, supporters of the pipeline are suggesting that Obama's caveat means the project will eventually move forward. They believe the evidence shows that the pipeline will not lead to a net increase in greenhouse gases. Indeed, the State Department has already released a draft study showing that the pipeline would not significantly add to greenhouse gas emissions.
"The standard the president set today should lead to speedy approval of the Keystone pipeline," Brendan Buck, a spokesman for Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio), told The Hill. "Based on the lengthy review by the State Department, construction of the pipeline would not have a significant environmental impact. It's time to sign off on Keystone and put Americans to work."
Obama also announced plans to increase regulations on coal power plants and subsidize wind and solar power. The Environmental Protection Agency will finalize new rules for coal plants designed to decrease the amount of carbon dioxide the plant release into the air. Obama has set new deadlines for when these new rules should be in place.
America will "set a bold example" for the rest of the world on climate change, Obama added, and he will encourage developing nations to "join a global low-carbon economy" by helping them utilize non-carbon based fuel sources.
It turns out that a large donation to the DNC will prevent the pipeline from warming the planet.
How the hell is a pipeline going to warm the planet? That’s like saying we should stop construction of the new World Trade Center because the construction leaves garbage all over the place.
One Big Ass Mistake America!
From the checking account of Warren Buffett.
..this clown would s*** his pants if someone didn’t show him the bathroom door
Why does this look like a bad make-over of Escape from the Planet of the Apes?
We are ruled by the brain-dead and the dishonest. There’s not one lick of evidence that CO2 is the cause of planetary warming. Not that facts matter in religious controversies.
Since there is no global warming, let’s build the pipeline.
Translation: No Keystone XL if it competes with my donor and tax hike advocate, Warren Buffet’s Oil transport company, Burlington Northern.
He’s pretty much said he’s not letting it get built, period. Just because.
I’m sure he will find plenty of oil to fuel his jet junkets and cavalcade of giant gas-guzzling limousines.
Environmentalism is for the serfs.
Build it anyway. It’s not his decision. If the States give a thumbs up to the pipeline, JUST DO IT!
The pipeline will come across the border after a new president is elected.
More oil means more warming of homes in the winter. Is that what he means by warming the planet?
No,what he means is that if he can find some filthy Communist "scientist" who'll blog that the planet's temperate will rise by 0.00000000000000000000000000000001 degree then no pipeline.I'd say that they chances of such a blog appearing is about 99.9999999
Well,you get the picture.
OK, if WE put in the pipeline and and use the oil in this country and it “warms the planet” then that’s bad.
If we DON’T put in the pipeline and the oil goes to China and other countries and it “warms the planet” then that’s OK.
Ah, typical lib/destroyer think. It always seems to make sense to them, but never to us.
Also typical obama to try to fire people up about something that is not on their radar.
It will probably make his ratings go even lower and he won’t be able to figure it our.
OK, no pipeline, no dem house and senate starting in 2014, no dem president in 2016. Fine with me.
Ah, but that was the OLD atate department under Hillary. Now Jon Cary (who served in Vietnam, I just learned) is in charge and the review process will have to be repeated. It should only take 12-15 more years, I would imagine.
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