New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, on a visit to Canada Thursday to tout the benefits of the Keystone XL pipeline, argued that delaying the project is bad politics and economics.
But environmentalists opposed to the project were delighted that Christie inadvertently bolstered their argument that the delay is extremely good for the environment,
Politico reports.
"[B]y limiting the ability of increased production from the Canadian oil sands to get to market, it stunts production," Christie told the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, Politico reports. "It risks stunting growth as well."
Environmentalists say that's a good thing because rejecting the $8 billion pipeline would force Canada’s oil industry to cut back and, as a result, eliminate emissions from the rising heavy-fuel production.
"Governor Christie prides himself on being a straight shooter and today, seemingly by accident, he shot Keystone XL right between the eyes," 350.org co-founder and communications director Jamie Henn told Politico. "Christie is wrong on a lot, but he happens to be right on this...."
President Barack Obama has said the "net effects of the pipeline's impact on our climate will be absolutely critical" to his final decision on the Alberta-to-Texas oil project, which activists describe as the president’s "climate test" for Keystone, Politico reports.
"Chris Christie agrees with us that blocking Keystone XL would block tar sands production, which means the pipeline fails President Obama’s climate test," said 350.org policy director Jason Kowalski told Politico, calling Christie "a man after my own heart."
Christie, nevertheless, is eager to get the pipeline open and running.
"This is not about sending your oil across our land," he said in said,
ABC News reports.
"It’s about maximizing the benefits of North America’s natural resources for everybody, about allowing markets to function, and about contributing to the prosperity of citizens both in the United States and in Canada."
He also slammed "our leaders’ comments on this topic," saying they should be marked not by "parochialism, but by principles," ABC News reports.
"And the principles should be enhancing the economic competitiveness of North America, treating allies and friends with respect and fair consideration, and creating jobs, growth and opportunity for everyone on both sides of the border," he said.
Last month, the pipeline that would carry tar sand oil from Canada to the United States Gulf Coast,
failed to win approval in the Senate by just on vote.
The upper chamber is expected to take up the issue again when the new Congress – with its GOP majority in both chambers – meets in 2015.
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