A new study has been released, claiming that the Keystone XL would produce four times more global warming pollution than existing studies have calculated. The study argues that existing US State Department studies do not take into account the fact that the added oil from the pipeline would cause a drop in prices by about US$ 3/bbl, spurring consumpton and creating more pollution.
The new study, from scientists at the Stockholm Environment Institute, estimates that the proposed pipeline would increase global greenhouse gas emissions by up to 121 million tpa. The State Department has previously calculated a rise of 30 million tpa.
Independent energy economists have dismissed the study, faulting the idea that added oil production will lower the price and boost demand.
The study points to gaps in existing environmental and economic assessments and says a US State Department’s analysis of Keystone XL didn’t account for the pipeline’s potential effects on global oil markets.
Edited from various sources by Elizabeth Corner
Sources: The Province, www.canada.com