Canada must diversify its energy pitch to U.S.

[unhappycamper]

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2014/07/16/canada_must_diversify_its_energy_pitch_to_us.html



Large sections of pipe are shown in Texas in this photo from Oct. 4, 2012. TransCanada's Keystone XL oil pipeline is still waiting for approval from the Obama administration.

Canada must diversify its energy pitch to U.S.
By: Andrew Finn Published on Wed Jul 16 2014

As the dust settles from yet another Keystone XL decision delay from the Obama administration, Canadian officials continue to scratch their collective heads about the United States’ decision to deny Gulf Coast refineries the heavy crude they so desperately need.

Canadians see approval of the pipeline as a “no-brainer” and any delay is seen as additional evidence of the current administration’s ambivalence toward its largest trading partner. These slights have led to a constant flow of articles decrying the “insult” and claiming that the relationship is at its historic ebb.

While the pipeline has become a powerful symbol of America’s commitment to its northern neighbour in Canada, in the United States it has morphed into a litmus test of the environmental commitment of the president. Domestic opposition to the pipeline, including the deep pockets of billionaire Tom Steyer, is now the driving force behind the delay.

These domestic concerns trump, and always will trump, the concerns of a foreign country, no matter how close the relationship is. However, Canada does offer another cleaner energy source that could alter the conversation around fossil fuel imports. In addition to touting the benefits of Keystone to the American economy, Canadians should do more to talk up the benefits of their hydropower potential.

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uuuh

[enid602]

1. Canada

It's Monsanto times 100. Google 'dirty oil.' Oh Canada!!!???? Doesn't quite fit their 'squeaky clean' image.