Prof. Klass Quoted in Article on Expansion of Alberta Clipper Oil Pipeline

Professor Alexandra Klass was quoted in an InsideClimate News article regarding the proposed expansion of the Alberta Clipper oil pipeline to bring tar sands oil from Canada to Superior, Wisconsin, where the oil is transferred to other pipelines for transport to refineries in the Midwest and South. The pipeline begins in Alberta and travels through Saskatchewan, Manitoba, North Dakota, and Minnesota before ending in Superior. Environmental groups oppose the pipeline expansion because of the adverse environmental effects associated with developing tar sands oil, which is the same type of oil at issue in the more well-known Keystone XL pipeline controversy. Enbridge Energy, the owner of the Alberta Clipper pipeline, is awaiting approval from the U.S. State Department for the pipeline expansion, which is required because the pipeline crosses an international border. While it awaits State Department approval, Enbridge has proposed to transfer oil from the Alberta Clipper Pipeline to a nearby pipeline with available capacity prior to the border crossing and then switch the oil back to the Alberta Clipper pipeline after the border crossing. Enbridge argues it may do this without State Department approval and environmental groups are threatening to bring legal action.