Ask anyone where most of US oil comes from and you’re likely to hear “somewhere in the Middle East.” Ten years ago, that would have been true. Today though, Canada is the undisputed top supplier of oil to the US.
A new report from a prominent oil industry group shows the tar sands are responsible for more than half of what we import from Canada.
This year, oil companies will ship more than 1 million barrels of oil per day from the tar sands across the border into the US.
If you live in the Midwest, you almost certainly fill your tank with tar sands oil. And wherever you live, it’s likely that industry has designs on your tank too. This image from a recent industry report paints a clear picture of tar sands expansion into the US. Analysts expect investors to pour more than $100 billion dollars into pipelines and refineries needed distribute and refine tar sands oil over the next decade.
What can I do, you ask? Two things. First, write President Obama and tell him to promote investments in renewable energies that will break our addiction to fossil fuels. Second, choose a bank that won’t use your money to underwrite this fossil fuel expansion (here’s the list).
Know of other ways to kick our tar sands oil habit? Please share them in the comments section below.
Brant Olson is the Director of RAN’s Freedom From Oil Campaign. For up-to-the-minute information on this campaign to end expansion of the Alberta tar sands, follow @Branto on Twitter.