Hagan calls for more Canadian oil imports

Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) said continued national security concerns should prompt the U.S. to import more oil from Canada.

“We need to be buying more oil from Canada,” Hagan said while on a weekend tour to visit tar-sands oil production there, as quoted by The Canadian Press. Canada, she said, is a safer supply of energy than the Middle East.

Her comments come amid escalating concern from environmental groups and some Democrats over the use of Canadian tar-sands-based oil in the U.S.

The State Department is still reviewing a proposed $7 billion expansion of a TransCanada pipeline that would send upwards of 1.1 million barrels per day from Alberta to Texas, at least doubling the current imports of Canadian tar-sands-based fuel. 

Hagan was part of a three-senator trip to Canada that included a tour of oil-sands operations in Alberta. That tour was led by Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach, who met recently with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on oil-sands production there as well.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) organized the weekend trip, which also included Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.).

The three senators were in Saskatoon on Saturday for talks on energy and agriculture issues, including carbon capture and storage technology.