Opponents of the proposed pipeline argued that allowing Keystone to pass through the U.S. would be assuming a large amount of risk, with little pay off. The majority of this dirty tar sands oil would be exported, but not before passing through America’s heartland. Denying this pipeline would send a clear message that the U.S. does not want dirty tar sands oil passing through our communities. Here are some of the best quotes from today’s hearing!
Top 10 quotes from the Keystone XL hearing:
1. “We’re screwing our children, grandchildren, all future generations if we think we can use those unconventional fossil fuels.”– Dr. James Hansen
2. “If we don’t approve KXL, much of Canada’s tar sands won’t be developed.”– Dr. James Hansen
Proponents of the Keystone pipeline like to argue that this tar sands oil will be developed regardless. But the truth is that Canada has been exploring other options and is hitting significant opposition. For example, native tribes in western Canada have made it clear that they will not allow a pipeline through their native lands.
3. “The choice is not whether to accepted increased risk by rail or pipeline, but whether to take the oil out of the ground”– Michael Brune
4. “It’s not about the pipeline. It’s really about tar sands oil. It’s carbon that’s the issue” – Senator Tim Kaine
Senator Tim Kaine gets it, this is not about the pipeline, it is about dirty tar sands oil that should remain in the ground.
5. “People say that the Keystone pipeline is a no-brainer. I’m sorry; I guess my brain works differently.”– Senator Barbara Boxer
Senator Boxer gave a strong testimony, citing the vast health impacts as one of the primary reasons to reject the pipeline. Accompanied by nurses from across the U.S., she talked about the health impacts of living near refineries. Often these places will have much higher rates of cancers and asthma, especially in children.
6. “If you are in support of the environment, you are in support of the pipeline.”– Chamber of Commerce’s Karen Harbert
Really?? I think the large majority of environmentalists are going to have to disagree with Ms. Harbert on that point.
7. To which Senator Barbara Boxer responded: “When you said ‘If you are an environmentalist you are in support of this pipeline’, let me just say that is ludicrous on its face, please don’t speak for me, and please don’t speak for lots of folks who don’t see it that way.”
8. “The world is looking at us. you’ve gotta be lowering your greenhouse gas emissions, not increasing.” – Senator Ed Markey
Tar sands is one of the most carbon intensive fuel sources. As we try to limit our overall carbon impact, it is important that we focus on reducing the most carbon intensive fuel sources.
10. “We’re all on the same boat. We will either sink together or find a way to sail together”– Dr. James Hansen
What KXL means for wildlife
We are all in the same boat, no matter your party (or your species!) you will be affected by climate change and dirty fuels projects. Keystone XL pipeline will cut through America’s agricultural heartland, the Missouri, Platte, and Niobrara Rivers, the Ogallala aquifer, habitat for sage grouse and sandhill cranes, walleye fisheries and much more. Migratory birds are especially at risk as many of their migration paths follow the proposed Keystone pipeline route. Habitat disruption in these areas would negatively impact these migrating species as well as the communities in the surrounding areas.
Take action now! Speak up for wildlife species and communities that would be impacted by Keystone XL and dirty tar sands projects.
“Our nation, our society, is addicted to fossil fuel. Quite literally we are dependent on it. We have a chemical dependency and we need to break it or we will raise the temperature of the earth so much it will invite massive risk of widespread catastrophe, disaster and misery.”
Keystone XL would feed our fossil fuel obsession when we need to be breaking the habit. Last night, Reverend Lennox Yearwood of the Hip Hop Caucus gave an energizing speech where he insisted, “We must transition from fossil fuels to clean energy and we must do it now!”
Polar bear joins the No KXL rally at the White House #keystone #KXL #noxl pic.twitter.com/r0MTjyhrHE
— Andrew Satter (@asatter) February 3, 2014
This nationwide anti-Keystone outcry comes just days after the State department released their highly-anticipated environmental impact statement on the project. The report has, for the first time, acknowledged the significant carbon impacts of the project stating that it could cause the equivalent carbon emissions of up to almost 6 million new cars being put on the road. This report has given President Obama all the information he needs to deny the pipeline.
In the State of the Union address last week, President Obama stated unequivocally that, “The debate is settled. Climate change is a fact.” The debate is also over on Keystone: the pipeline would be a climate disaster. If President Obama is truly believes what he said in the State of the Union, he will deny the Keystone pipeline and make secure his legacy as a climate champion.
The Good
Thanks to the help of the many NWF members and activists who influenced their Senators, we beat back many bad environmental amendments and saw the Senate pass some positive ones. We were especially pleased to see a majority of Senators stand up for the Clean Air Act by voting down amendments that would have struck down the Mercury Air Toxins standard and blocked agencies from curbing the pollution driving climate change. The Senate also passed amendments to insure that critical funds are available to prevent the risk of wildfires, increase funding for ARPA-E, which provides research funding for innovative energy technologies, increase the amount of funding for weatherization and energy efficiency programs, and help homeowners and small businesses mitigate against flood loss.
The Bad
Unfortunately, several amendments with harmful consequences for people and wildlife did pass. One passed amendment undermines federal efforts to avoid the need to list the greater sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act. And another amendment weakens the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)—the landmark environmental law that requires every federal agency to consider the environmental impact of any government action—by saying that greenhouse gas emissions produced outside the United States by any good produced here (including fossil fuels) are not subject to the requirements of NEPA.
And finally, the Senate passed an amendment that expresses support for building the Keystone XL pipeline—something that will have a disastrous impact on the climate and on wildlife.
The Amendments
Pro-environment actions
- Udall-Barasso Amendment 239 – passed by voice vote. Ensures critical funds are available to help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires, which threaten communities and natural resources across the country
- Merkley Amendment 398 – passed by voice vote. Increases the investment of government research dollars under the Department of Energy ARPA-E program
- Reed-Collins-Merkley Amendment 482 – passed by voice vote. Increases the budget for weatherization and energy efficiency retrofit programs
- Coats-Manchin Amendment 514 – failed 46-53. Undermines the Mercury/Air Toxins Standard under the Clean Air Act.
- Inhofe Amendment 359 – failed 47-52. Proposes funding cuts to block agencies from curbing the pollution driving climate change.
- Menendez 619 – passed by voice vote. Helps homeowners and small businesses mitigate against flood loss.
Anti-environment actions
- Barrasso Amendment 184 – passed by voice vote. Expedites exports from the U.S. through reform of NEPA in such a manner that Greenhouse Gas Emissions produced outside the U.S. by any good exported from the U.S. are not subject to the requirements of NEPA.
- Heller Amendment 293 – passed by voice vote. Undermines federal efforts to avoid the need to list the greater sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act by establishing a fund to “ensure” that the Bureau of Land Management works toward “approving” state plans for managing the bird, regardless of whether they will actually meet the standards needed to avoid listing on a national basis.
- Hoeven 494 – passed 62-37. Expresses support for construction of the Keystone XL pipeline
Santa’s sleigh doesn’t run on oil, it’s powered by Rudolph and his friends! Santa’s reindeer and their cousins, the woodland caribou, are in danger and need your help! Up in Alberta, Canada caribou are being threatened by the tar sands industry and humans rapid expansion into caribou habitat. This dirty industry is responsible for dangerous projects like Keystone XL pipeline & other pipelines across the country. Alberta’s government reported that caribou populations are in serious decline and measures need to be taken to save this iconic and important species (I mean, seriously, how can you not save the red-nosed Rudolph?). This comes on the hooves of Alberta’s 5-year wolf-killing program as its main approach to caribou management, which has already seen more than 500 wolves killed.
Why We Should Save Caribou:
- Dasher
- Dancer
- Prancer
- Vixen
- Comet
- Cupid
- Donner
- Blitzen
- Rudolph
Joe Mendelson, National Wildlife Federation climate and energy policy director responded to the news saying,
The reason TransCanada needs to keep shutting down Keystone is because pipelines are inherently dangerous. When a pipeline carries heavy tar sands, the risks multiply. Canadian tar sands are not inherently better or safer, quite the opposite, they require the construction of massive and unstable infrastructure that will eventually fail. The best approach to our energy challenges isn’t building more pipelines, it’s embracing clean energy solutions that don’t spill or explode.
The news comes just days after the Canadian government said it was launching a probe of TransCanada for lapses in its safety culture.