Obama Calls Canada's Oil Sands "Dilemma," Like US Coal

OTTAWA — President Barack Obama, in advance of his first foreign trip, said Tuesday that Canada's oil sands operations leave a carbon foot print that adds to climate change concerns.

Obama, who heads to Canada on Thursday, expressed concern about the environmental impact of the oil sands in an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said energy security and the environmental impact of Alberta's massive oil sands operations will be priorities during his meeting with the new U.S. leader. Harper is expected to lobby Obama on the merits of the oil sands as a safe and secure source of oil.

But critics say the growing operations by major oil companies will increase greenhouse gas emissions and threaten Alberta's rivers and forests. Experts say producing a barrel of oil from sand results in emissions three times greater than a conventional barrel of oil.

Obama likened the carbon footprint of the oil sands with that of the U.S. coal industry.

"What we know is that oil sands creates a big carbon footprint. So the dilemma that Canada faces, the United States faces, and China and the entire world faces is how do we obtain the energy that we need to grow our economies in a way that is not rapidly accelerating climate change," Obama said.

Obama said he would like to work with Canada on developing carbon capture and storage to deal with the massive emissions coming out of both the American coal and Alberta oil industries. The new largely unproven technology would bury harmful emissions underground. The Obama administration dedicated billions from its economic stimulus package to renewable energy and new green technologies.

"I think to the extent that Canada and the United States can collaborate on ways that we can sequester carbon, capture greenhouse gases before they're emitted into the atmosphere, that's going to be good for everybody," Obama said.

Obama has criticized America's dependence on Middle East oil and has said he'll get serious about energy independence. The Bush administration viewed oil-rich Canada as a reliable source of energy that will help reduce reliance on Middle East oil.

Canada has warned Washington would lose energy security if it doesn't take Alberta's oil. Daily production of 1.2 million barrels from the oil sands is expected to nearly triple to 3.3 million barrels in 2020.

The president also applauded Canada's baking system, which has avoided government bailouts and has not experienced the failure of any major financial institution.

"One of the things that I think has been striking about Canada is that in the midst of this enormous economic crisis, I think Canada has shown itself to be a pretty good manager of the financial system in the economy in ways that we haven't always been here in the United States," Obama said.

"And I think that's important for us to take note of, that it's possible for us to have a vibrant banking sector, for example, without taking some of the wild risks that have resulted in so much trouble on Wall Street," he said.

Comments

[Exusian]

Correction:
There are no "oil sands" in Canada.
There are only tar sands.

"Oil sands" is an industry-invented term that makes it sound like all you have to do is strain sand out of oil, when what you actually have to do is expend vast quantities of water and heat from burning natural gas to separate bitumen out of the sand matrix. You then have to refine the bitumen into synthetic crude oil.

All this makes the process up to three times more carbon-intensive than extracting conventional crude oil.

[indieyell]

also.. we have no baking system, so far as i know. although the bagels in montreal are awesome, i think he's mostly been talking up our banking system of late.

[canadiantourism]

In advance of his first foreign visit as President of the United States, Canadians have created a video featuring Canadians welcoming President Barack Obama to Canada:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6bk2YjfPTg

[WNY Geologist]

"Obama said he would like to work with Canada on developing carbon capture and storage to deal with the massive emissions coming out of both the American coal and Alberta oil industries. The new largely unproven technology would bury harmful emissions undergroun­d."

This is the same wrong answer given time and again for pollution issues. I live 15 minutes from 'LOVE CANAL', anyone remember that place? The answer then was stick it in the ground. Well we know how that turned-out. I can not expect there is any safe underground dumping of anything.

I need only drive up the road to see the horror and impacts of when that policy fails. I hope more people will see past the pretty whitewashing and see "There is NO SAFE DUMPING" even CO2. What happens when a CO2 dumpsite leaks? How many dead? How much damage?

The real answer is STOP!!! There are options lets invest and expand, its what is needed.

[doctorkosan]

We will power our vehicles with cellulosic based biofuels and renewable forms of electricity. We have more than 5 years to get to this destination but the journey must be aggressively funded now.

[ImmanuelGoldstein]

With an EROI of 1/5-1/8 that of petroleum the term 'boondoggle' comes to mind rather than dilemma.
Oil sands will be truly economical only when gasoline is over $10 a gal. The tar sands industry wouldn't exist without a big fat pile of government money. It's just more socialism for the rich.

[hollace]

Thank You President Obama ..Harper like Bush ,is the son of an Oilman, and would not be surprised if he moved to Bush Country..a­fter he is thrown out. Here is a Big French Kiss from me ,and a Looney for the Border Crossing.