Former Obama economic advisor claims Keystone XL pipeline would not lead toward energy independence

In a Wednesday interview, former Obama economic advisor Robert Wolf argued that the Keystone XL pipeline would not help make America energy independent.

Wolf appeared on Fox News to discuss America's energy needs, as calls for America to reopen the Keystone XL pipeline in order to be more energy independent.

"Perhaps opening up the Keystone pipeline is not off the table for this White House?" host Sandra Smith asked Wolf.

"I think XL is off the table," Wolf responded, before launching into a tirade against the pipeline.

"One, it's the worst type of oil you can have. Its tar sands going from Alberta to the Gulf of Mexico," he said, adding that, "it wasn't going to really change anything to do with our oil supply, it was to export from the Gulf of Mexico."

"That's debatable," Smith retorted, to which Smith said, "it's not, actually."

"It has nothing to do with oil fields," Wolf continued. "It's a pipeline, and it was gonna end at the Gulf of Mexico. That's a fact, you should look it up."

Wolf expressed his desire to see America become energy independent, but argued that, "it's not about XL."

Many disagree with Wolf, arguing that the pipeline would, in fact, assist the nation in weaning off foreign sources of oil, and reducing the price of gas for consumers.

Chemical engineer Robert Rapier defended the pipeline in a recent piece for Forbes, saying that while it is not a major contributor to rising gas prices, the fact that many people are treating it as a "scapegoat" is bad, politically, for the Biden administration. Rapier did admit that depending on how Russia acts, whether or not the pipeline is operating could have an impact.

"The failure to have Keystone XL in place could be a contributor to higher gasoline prices," he wrote. "If the demand is there, and it is more expensive to ship oil from Russia, for example, then gasoline prices are going to be higher."