BURLINGTON, Vt., Aug. 26 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) reacts to the State Department’s announcement on the Keystone XL pipeline:

“I continue to oppose the tar sands Keystone XL Pipeline and disagree strongly with the Administration that there would be limited environmental impacts. This pipeline would provide markets for the dirtiest oil on Earth, oil which the EPA has found emits 82 percent more carbon pollution than conventional oil. Everyone who understands global warming understands that using tar sands oil means much more than the limited environmental impacts the State Department outlined. The truth is we can save much more oil than the pipeline will provide just through the new fuel economy standards President Obama has ordered. Moving
to 54.5 miles per gallon can help us eliminate our reliance on Middle East oil, and also eliminates the need for this pipeline. I hope the President, who
understands the science of global warming, continues to push for stronger fuel economy standards and rejects this tar sands pipeline.”