In remarks on the Senate floor, hours before a vote on a bill that fast-tracks construction of the [Keystone XL pipeline], McConnell pointed to the "science" supporting the legislation. "Those who took a serious look at the science and the potential benefits reached the conclusion long ago," he said Tuesday. "They understand that the whole drama over Keystone has been as protracted as it is unnecessary. We hope to turn the page on all of that today."
Green groups ... They point out that producing oil from Canada's tar sands is a particularly energy-intensive process that leads to 17 percent more carbon dioxide than regular oil production does over the entire life-cycle. That, in turn, will exacerbate global warming -- especially at a time when the world will likely need to leave much of its existing oil, gas, and coal reserves underground if we want to avoid drastic climate change. Better to leave the tar sands oil in the ground, green groups say, and start shifting toward cleaner energy alternatives.