A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation Tuesday to squash a federal policy banning the use of fuels derived from Canadian tar sands and shale by the U.S. military and other federal agencies.
Republican Senators John Barrasso and Mike Enzi of Wyoming and Democrats Joe Manchin of West Virignia and Heidi Heitkamp and John Hoeven of North Dakota introduced the bill, the North American Alternative Fuels Act, to repeal the policy.
The policy was included in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, effectively banning the military and other agencies from using fuels that have higher greenhouse gas emissions.
Canadian oil sands is one such fuel source. Other fuels include synthetic fuels derived from coal and petroleum from shale.
Greenhouse gas emissions are considered by many scientists to be driving manmade climate change. Previous attempts to repeal the policy have been thwarted by Democrats when they held the majority in past congresses.
“Instead of giving preference to oil imported from overseas, Washington should look to North American coal, oil shale and oil sands, all of which provide an affordable, abundant and alternative source of fuel,” Barrasso said. “In addition to increasing cost effectiveness options for the government, it will also increase America’s energy security.”
