Cross-posted from ThinkProgress Green.

The Keystone XL tar-sands pipeline will not reduce dependence on imports from the Middle East, an analysis conducted for the Department of Energy revealed a year ago. The hope of getting away from oil from the volatile region is a favored talking point by proponents. “The Keystone project has the potential to significantly reduce oil imports from the Middle East,” Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) has claimed. However, an analysis by Department of Energy contractor Ensys Energy in December 2010 found that the pipeline would have virtually no impact on Middle East imports [PDF]:

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Chart.

In contrast, efforts to reduce oil demand (LowD on the chart), Ensys found, “would result in reduction of oil imports from non-Canadian foreign sources, especially the Middle East.”

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