It's Back: Keystone XL Pipeline Debate

This past January, President Obama blocked a proposition for the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would carry oil from tar sands in western Canada to a hub in Steele City, Nebraska, then link up to other pipelines operated by the same company to transport oil to refineries around the Texas Gulf Coast.

Map of Potential Pipeline' s Route through North America

Although President Obama blocked the project, he did not completely reject the idea -- the White House correspondence liked to say that the "decision was postponed."  Republican supporters of the Keystone Pipeline project were extremely unhappy with this decision.

TransCanada, the company who proposed the project, is expected to reapply for another Keystone Pipeline permit for the President and various federal officials to review.  This means that we may have another shot at undertaking the pipeline project.

By "postponing" the Keystone XL Pipeline in January, an estimated potential 6,000 new jobs that would have resulted from the project, were never created.  Many oil refinery companies with the United States pulled back on hiring after this decision because they were uncertain of any increase of business within the near future.

The country's current unemployment rate was released today -- and it is a staggering 8.1%.

Cartoon Depiction of One Major Benefit of the Proposed Pipeline

The project will cost in the multi-billions, but would greatly reduce the United States' dependence of foreign oil and stimulate tremendous job growth for American workers.

And Even More Good News for Everyone: This may also mean lower gas prices at the pump.

 Remember these days?

President Obama, many Democrats, and environmental groups are concerned about the Keystone XL Pipeline because they believe that the oil transported from tar sands in Alberta, Canada would be "dirty" and, in turn, take more energy to extract.  They are also concerned about a possible spill due to the distance oil will be traveling throughout North America.

Pipeline Protesters in Washington, DC.

The new application of the Keystone Pipeline XL will be reviewed, but a final decision is not estimated until sometime early next year --  which means that this issue will be a big one for the upcoming Presidential Election.

I am excited to hear both sides of the discussion, and of course the ultimate decision, concerning the reinstating of the proposal for the Keystone XL Pipeline.