Obama presser steers clear of Keystone, climate

In late June Obama said he would only approve Keystone if it would not “significantly exacerbate” carbon pollution on a “net” basis – comments that quickly prompted furious speculation about how he would apply the test.

{mosads}And in an interview published in late July, Obama made largely negative – though, in the same Rorschach test vein, not entirely negative – comments about TransCanada Corp.’s proposed project.

But the Friday press conference, which began with Obama making lengthy remarks before questions could surface, focused on Russia, surveillance, immigration and other topics.

Check out The Hill’s coverage of the press conference here, here, here, here, here and here.

On Keystone, the State Department is leading the federal review of the proposed pipeline that would bring oil from Canadian oil sands projects across the border en route to Gulf Coast refineries.

But the final decision on the cross-border permit is expected to be made in the West Wing.