Several groups opposing the pipeline demanded last week that the State Department redo the environmental report, citing new studies that contend that rejection of the pipeline would slow oil sands development because there are few workable transport alternatives. The groups also said the State Department had underestimated the overall greenhouse gas emissions of the project. Analysts said the president’s language was artful, giving his green supporters something to cheer about while not committing him to any conditions not already required to be met by the review process. And the comments were embedded in a speech that gave environmental advocates most of what they were demanding on climate change, including the first-ever carbon limits on new and existing power plants. Kevin Book, director of research for ClearView Energy Partners, a research and consulting company, said the president’s words — particularly “significantly” and “net effects” — had been carefully chosen and left open much room for interpretation. “The administration up to now has been sending very strong signals of a pathway to yes on the pipeline,” Mr. Book said. “But with these comments, the president has maintained his options.”
Posted on: Tue, 09 Jul 2013 14:50:05 +0000
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