NASA Scientist Urges Canada Not To Touch Oil Sands
October 6, 2010
AHN News Staff
Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada (AHN) - Another nail was driven into Alberta’s oil sands industry on Tuesday after a top NASA scientist advised the province to leave the tar fields alone. James Hansen of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies gave the advice to a panel reviewing the proposed Total E&P $9-billion plan to build the Joslyn North Mine.
Hansen said that while the oil sands appear to be a money maker for Alberta and the world needs sources of energy, exploiting unconventional fossil fuels such as tar sands and tar shale would release more carbon dioxide into the air and it would cost $200 to $500 per ton to suck the CO 2 out of the environment.
Hansen said because of the income tar sands bring to the government, he does not expect Ottawa or Alberta to slow down on oil sands projects. He said green groups should instead pursue legal action to stop more oil sands projects from being pursued.
As early as February 2009, Hansen had spoken against the tar sands projects in an article at the Ottawa Citizen timed with the first Canada visit of new U.S. President Barack Obama.
Aside from Hansen, "Avatar" director James Cameron had spoken against the oil sands. Ottawa also created a six-member panel to review Alberta’s oil sands industry.
The oil sands are being blamed for the rise in the number of deformed fish catch and the high mercury level of birds eggs in the Athabasca River, which is downstream of Alberta’s oil sands industry.
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7020129046?NASA%20Scientist%20Ur...
