Earth Equity News

Oil Association Challenges Californian Right to Ban Oil from Tar Sands. By Terry Macalister, Guardian, February 14, 2010. "A lobby group that includes BP and Shell in its membership has launched a legal challenge against low-carbon legislation in California that in effect rules out the use of oil from Canadian tar sands. The action by the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association (NPRA) comes amid growing political, investor and consumer pressure on US oil companies not to participate in the carbon-intensive tar sands of Alberta. A NPRA statement said the legislation was unlawful for a number of reasons, including the imposition of 'undue and unconstitutional burdens on interstate commerce.' It claimed the legislation would also have 'little or no impact' on greenhouse gas emissions nationwide and would harm US energy security 'by discouraging the use of Canadian crude oil and ethanol produced in the American midwest.' The refiners are joined by the American Trucking Associations and the Centre for North American Energy Security in their attempt to overturn the legislation."