A new television ad began broadcasting on Sunday, and calls on President Obama to “do the right thing” to prevent climate change by rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline.
Produced and narrated by California billionaire hedge fund manager Tom Steyer, the ad is the latest attempt by his political action committee (PAC) to pressure Obama and to counter messaging of proponents of the pipeline.
“Mr. President, you’ve had real accomplishments when it comes to fighting climate disruption,” Mr. Steyer says in the ad, which will run on cable networks across the country. “Let’s do the right thing on Keystone.”
The 1,700-mile pipeline would carry tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada, to American refineries on the Gulf Coast. Proponents say the project would create jobs and help the United States reduce its dependence on oil from the Middle East.
However, the reality is that the Keystone XL pipeline will create as few as 20 permanent new jobs in the U.S., and the crude delivered by Keystone XL will be exported into the global market from U.S. ports.
Because the pipeline would cross the border between the United States and Canada, it must get a permit from the State Department after environmental and other reviews. President Obama has said he will make the decision about whether to approve the pipeline based in part on whether those reviews conclude that the pipeline contributes significantly to carbon pollution.
In the new television ad, Mr. Steyer claims that has already been answered.
“The truth? Scientists report Keystone oil would produce as much carbon pollution as 620,000 cars every year,” he says in the ad.