Maine Sen. Susan Collins has become a self-described leader on climate change! At a recent roundtable in Portland, Collins actually gave advice for making progress on this issue.
During the question-and-answer session, the audience members were too polite to ask how a climate change “leader” could support the Keystone pipeline and the filthy tar sands crude it would carry.
The fact is that Collins has voted every time for immediate approval of the Keystone pipeline.
In addition, every other member of Maine’s congressional delegation has urged a State Department environmental review of the possible reversal of Portland Pipe Line, which would bring tar sands oil through Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine – but not Collins.
Keystone would allow seizure of American property for the benefit of foreign oil. It would bring the risk of spills, like the tragic 2010 spill in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Collins’ support of Keystone also means tacit support of the environmental devastation of Alberta: Destruction of Alberta’s boreal forest (a UNESCO World Heritage site), toxic waste ponds so large they can be seen from space and displacement of Canada’s First Nation citizens.
On MPBN’s “Maine Calling” on Aug. 7, 2013, Collins said, “We need that oil – we don’t want China to get it.” But the U.S. now leads the world in oil and gas production – “dirty energy” independence! Besides, “that oil” would be sold on the world market. It would not lower Mainers’ heating costs.
Collins and her fellow Keystone pipeline supporters receive big money from Big Oil. (Check out Oil Change International – Dirty Energy Money.)
Why does the U.S. have to be the pathway for Canadian Big Oil pipelines? And if Keystone is not built, why should the U.S. be the pathway for exploding oil trains?
Let’s ask the expert, Susan Collins – she’s the new leader on climate change!
Linda Dumey
Wells
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