The U.S. Congress has proposed legislation that would institute a low-carbon fuel standard, following in California's footsteps. To date, none of the proposals has passed. But meanwhile, individual states are looking into the passage of a California-like standard, which would restrict the carbon intensity of their transportation and home heating fuels. Unfortunately, such a standard would also reduce oil imports from our northern neighbor, Canada. Canadian proven oil reserves -- second in the world only to Saudi Arabia -- are composed mostly of oil sands, a heavy oil that emits more carbon emissions in its production than conventional oil does.
