Gore urges Obama to block pipeline for ‘dirtiest source of fuel on the planet’

Former Vice President Gore called on President Obama late Wednesday to reject a pending permit application for a controversial pipeline project, calling the oil that it would carry “the dirtiest fuel on the planet.”

“The answer to our climate, energy and economic challenges does not lie in burning more dirty fossil fuels — instead, we must continue to press for much more rapid development of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies and cuts in the pollution that causes global warming,” Gore, a vocal climate activist, wrote on his blog Wednesday night.

{mosads}The State Department is just months away from a decision on the proposed TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry Canadian oil sands from Alberta to refineries on the Texas Gulf Coast.

Environmental groups and others have mounted an aggressive opposition campaign to the 1,700-mile proposed pipeline. They’ve staged a two-week protest in front of the White House that has led to hundreds of arrests, and put Obama on notice that a failure to block the project could hurt his reelection campaign.

Gore blasted the project Wednesday, raising concerns about the environmental impact of Canada’s oil sands production, which results in higher greenhouse gas emissions than conventional oil production.

“The tar sands are the dirtiest source of fuel on the planet,” Gore said.

Many Republicans and the oil industry have pressed the administration to approve the project, arguing it will boost the economy. But one Republican governor, Dave Heineman (Neb.), called on Obama to reject the proposed pipeline Thursday.

A final environmental review released by the State Department last week stated that there would be “no significant impacts to most resources” along the route if the company adheres to conditions and mitigation measures that pipeline regulators and environmental agencies demand.

Critics of the pipeline blasted the review, arguing it ignores key concerns about the project.

But Energy Secretary Steven Chu hinted this week that he supports the Keystone XL pipeline, arguing in an interview that the country would be better off getting oil from Canada than unstable nations in the Middle East.

The State Department said it hopes to make a final decision on the project by the end of the year.