The Obama administration today rejected TransCanada's application for a permit to build the Keystone XL pipeline from the tar sand fields of Alberta, Canada to U.S. oil refineries on the Gulf of Mexico.

The proposed pipeline would cost an estimated $7 billion, span six states, and stretch across more than 1,700 miles--some of it through environmentally sensitive areas and past communities of people who are worried about the potential health effects of possible oil spills, air pollution, water contamination and greenhouse gas emissions.

Supporters argue that the pipeline is needed to create jobs and reduce America's dependence on oil from nations that are sometimes hostile to U.S. interests. Opponents say that the uncertain number of jobs the pipeline would create--many of them temporary low-paying jobs rather than the permanent high-wage jobs usually cited by pipeline advocates--are not worth the health and environmental risks the pipeline poses.

Learn more about today's decision and what comes next.

Also Read:

• Obama Kills Keystone XL Pipeline Project--For Now
• Expediting U.S. Oil Production Will Not Lower Fuel Prices
• The Politics of Poison: Many Americans Still Breathe Toxic Air

On Wednesday, the EPA issued the first national standards ever created to improve air quality by reducing mercury and other toxic air pollution from U.S. power plants.

Millions of Americans will breathe a little easier because of the new standards, which will prevent many serious health issues and premature deaths each year, save billions of dollars in health care costs, and create thousands of new jobs without creating significant hardships for the power industry.

To learn more about the new standards, see: EPA Issues First National Standards to Reduce Mercury from Power Plants.

Peace on Earth doesn't just apply to resolving war between nations or feuds with your in-laws; it's also a good long-term goal for reducing humankind's harsh treatment of the environment.

Learn how following a few simple steps can help you have a green Christmas that will be as much a celebration for the planet as it is for your family.

Also Read:

• How to Have a Green Christmas
• Top 10 Tips for a Green Thanksgiving
• Green Halloween Tips: Tricks to Make Your Halloween a Treat for Mother Nature

Everyone knows about the power of mistletoe at Christmas, right? It turns holiday romance democratic by making everyone equally kissable. But there is more to mistletoe than kissing and holiday merriment.

This year, as you await your chance under the mistletoe with that special someone, consider these fun facts--environmental and otherwise--about the unassuming little sprig that promises to enliven your holiday season.

_{Photo courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey}