海角大神

Hillary Clinton has made her position on Arctic drilling clear.

On Tuesday, the former secretary of state voiced her opposition to Royal Dutch Shell鈥檚 quest for oil in the region, putting her at odds with the Obama administration, which the day before. The statement is also Mrs. Clinton鈥檚 strongest position so far on an issue that some environmentalists consider critical in determining a presidential candidate鈥檚 commitment to addressing climate change.

鈥淭he Arctic is a unique treasure,鈥� Clinton posted on her Twitter page Tuesday morning. 鈥淕iven what we know, it鈥檚 not worth the risk of drilling.鈥�

After being forced to shut down a similar project in 2012, Shell began exploratory drilling for oil and gas in the Arctic on July 30 on the condition that drilling be kept to the top of the seabed 鈥� thus avoiding the actual oil reserves 鈥� until the company had access to a 鈥渃apping stack鈥� that could shut down a well in case of a spill. The capping stack arrived last week, clearing the way for the administration鈥檚 final approval.

Arctic drilling is a key election issue for many environmentalists, who see oil and gas development in the region as as well as a move that could deepen the United States鈥� reliance on fossil fuels.

Conservation groups have criticized President Obama for moving forward with the project while at the same time pledging sweeping action to mitigate climate change: Earlier this month, he revealed his signature policy to curb power-plant emissions, and last week to visit communities affected by climate change.

鈥淭he president cannot have it both ways,鈥� Annie Leonard, executive director of Greenpeace USA, . 鈥淎nnouncing a tour of Alaska to highlight climate change days before giving Shell the final approval to drill in the Arctic ocean is deeply hypocritical.鈥�

Which may be part of why Clinton has decided to stand against Arctic drilling, despite her vocal support for most of Obama's climate policies.聽

The Democratic frontrunner has already faced criticism for her reticence to take a position on the Keystone XL pipeline 鈥� a nearly 1,200-mile-long project to move oil from Canada to refineries in the US that has sparked heated debate between the oil and gas industry and conservationists, as聽海角大神聽has reported.

If Clinton ever reveals her position on the pipeline, she knows she will upset a large group of potential voters and donors. Businesses and organized labor want the pipeline bill to pass because of the jobs it will create. Environmental groups are staunchly opposed because of the damage it could do to the environment.

Taking a firm position against drilling in the Arctic 鈥� in addition to releasing a plan that outlines a nationwide shift to renewable energy sources 鈥� could strengthen Clinton鈥檚 image as a supporter of key environmental efforts while allowing her to steer clear of the Keystone XL issue.

Indeed, groups that have criticized Obama for approving Shell鈥檚 drilling project have praised Clinton鈥檚 statement.

鈥淲e applaud Secretary Clinton for standing up for what science, the will of the American people and common sense demand,鈥� Michael Brune, executive director of the conservation group Sierra Club, .

That hasn鈥檛 stopped Clinton鈥檚 Republican rivals from pushing back on her position on oil drilling. In response to her tweet Tuesday, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who has said he is skeptical of climate change, countered: 鈥淏eing more-anti energy than Obama is extreme. We should embrace energy revolution to lower prices and create US jobs.鈥�

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, also a Republican candidate, chimed in: "Still waiting to hear your position on Keystone."