did the keystone pipeline benefit the united states

The Keystone Pipeline

Would Create Lower Prices One of the best reasons to seek North American energy independence through the Keystone Pipeline is that it would result in much lower oil prices and provide a significant economic advantage to the United States. An example of this can be seen in Venezuela.

Full Answer

Why to stop the Keystone Pipeline?

The Canadian company behind Keystone XL, TC Energy, operates a pipeline which spilled thousands of gallons of oil in South Dakota in 2017 and North Dakota in 2019. Activists and tribal members say the pipeline endangers water quality, breaks tribal land treaties and pipeline construction brings the threat of human trafficking.

Why shut down Keystone Pipeline?

With temperatures from North Dakota to Northern Alberta far below normal, TC Energy’s Keystone pipeline was temporarily shut down on Jan 4, which affected the oil flow through its Hardisty terminal. Almost all of Alberta was under extreme cold warnings, which was expected to last until the weekend.

Why is the Keystone XL pipeline still so disputed?

Why Is the Keystone XL Pipeline Still So Disputed? The Keystone Pipeline system has been the subject of controversy for years as environmentalists and others have fought to prevent construction and expansion of this oil-delivery network.

Why did the Keystone Pipeline shut down?

The Keystone pipeline has not been shut down. It is still moving hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil every day. All that oil passes right through the US, on its way to Asian markets. What was stopped was the building of the XL extension. The XL extension was slated to be built right over the top of the nations largest fresh water aquifer.

How does the Keystone pipeline help the United States?

The Keystone XL pipeline, a privately funded project, would double the current capacity of oil transported in the U.S. per day, provide the U.S. with a more stable source of crude oil, and significantly increase employment and capital within America.

How does the Keystone Pipeline benefit the economy?

The Keystone XL pipeline is a 2,700-‐kilometer pipeline that stretches from central Alberta, Canada to the American Gulf Coast. It creates the ability for Canadian oil to reach the United States as well as other international markets with ease. There are numerous benefits that this pipeline creates for Canada.

How much money has the US spent on the Keystone pipeline?

The original Keystone Pipeline cost US$5.2 billion. A press release from TransCanada in 2008 estimated the Keystone XL costs at approximately US$7 billion with a completion date of 2012. From January 2018 through December 31, 2019, Keystone XL development costs were $1.5 billion.

What harm does the Keystone pipeline do?

Ultimately, construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline could have detrimental effects on the environment, such as the destruction of ecosystems, the loss of habitats, and the pollution of nearby rivers.

Why is the Keystone XL pipeline bad?

No matter how you look at it, Keystone XL would be bad for wildlife, especially endangered species. Many imperiled species live along the proposed pipeline's path and in areas where tar-sands oil is produced. If the pipeline were built, it would decimate habitat these species rely on.

Why was the Keystone pipeline stopped?

Leaks and the pipeline Less than two years before the project was finally pulled, the Keystone tar sands pipeline was temporarily shut down after a spill in North Dakota of reportedly more than 378,000 gallons in late October 2019.

Who financed the Keystone pipeline?

Until now there has not been specific project finance for the Keystone XL pipeline. Instead, banks have financed the Keystone XL pipeline through general corporate loans to TransCanada Pipelines Ltd. (100% subsidiary of TC Energy that owns and operates the Keystone XL pipeline), bonds, and the sale of company assets.

Who owns the oil in the Keystone pipeline?

Owned by North American company TC Energy, the Keystone XL Pipeline “is the fourth phase of the Keystone Pipeline System,” an existing 2,687-mile pipeline whose Canadian portion “runs from Hardisty, Alberta, east into Manitoba where it turns south and crosses the border into North Dakota,” according to the company's ...

Why the Keystone XL pipeline should be built?

Why do we need Keystone XL? The U.S. continues to import about 9.1 million barrels of oil a day from 90 countries across the globe. When completed, Keystone XL will play a critical role in connecting the world's third largest oil reserve with the world's largest refining market at the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Why is the Keystone pipeline bad for climate change?

In 2015, the Environmental Protection Agency calculated that the energy required to process tar sands oil and transport it through Keystone XL would generate 1.3 billion more tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the pipeline's 50-year lifespan than if it were carrying conventional crude.

Is the Keystone pipeline environmentally friendly?

We are proud that Keystone XL offers a safer, superior alternative to transporting fuel than trains, trucks and tankers, which produce far greater GHG emissions. We know the energy landscape is rapidly changing, and we are investing in new energy infrastructure.

What is the Keystone pipeline?

The Keystone XL pipeline extension, proposed by TC Energy (then TransCanada) in 2008, was initially designed to transport the planet’s dirtiest fossil fuel, tar sands oil, to market—and fast. As an expansion of the company’s existing Keystone Pipeline System, which has been operating since 2010 (and continues to send Canadian tar sands crude oil from Alberta to various processing hubs in the middle of the United States), the pipeline promised to dramatically increase capacity to process the 168 billion barrels of crude oil locked up under Canada’s boreal forest. It was expected to transport 830,000 barrels of Alberta tar sands oil per day to refineries on the Gulf Coast of Texas.

How many times has the Keystone pipeline leaked?

Since it first went into operation in 2010, TC Energy’s original Keystone Pipeline System has leaked more than a dozen times; one incident in North Dakota sent a 60-foot, 21,000-gallon geyser of tar sands oil spewing into the air.

How much oil would be transported by Keystone XL?

To be precise, it would transport 830,000 barrels of Alber ta tar sands oil per day to refineries on the Gulf Coast of Texas. Some 3 million miles of oil and gas pipelines already run through our country. But Keystone XL wouldn’t be your average pipeline, and tar sand oil isn’t your average crude.

What would happen if Keystone XL was fully realized?

A fully realized Keystone XL would lead to more mining of that “nasty stuff” by accelerating the pace at which it’s produced and transported. (Indeed, Keystone XL was viewed as a necessary ingredient in the oil industry’s plans to triple tar sands production by 2030.)

How many jobs will KXL create?

When TC Energy said the pipeline would create nearly 119,000 jobs, a State Department report instead concluded the project would require fewer than 2,000 two-year construction jobs and that the number of full-time, permanent jobs would hover around 35 after construction.

Why is Keystone XL being opposed?

Opposition to Keystone XL centers on the devastating environmental consequences of the project. The pipeline has faced years of sustained protests from environmental activists and organizations; Indigenous communities; religious leaders; and the farmers, ranchers, and business owners along its proposed route. One such protest, a historic act of civil disobedience outside the White House in August 2011, resulted in the arrest of more than 1,200 demonstrators. More than 90 leading scientists and economists have opposed the project, in addition to unions and world leaders such as the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and former president Jimmy Carter (together, these and other Nobel laureates have written letters against the project). In 2014, more than two million comments urging a rejection of the pipeline were submitted to the State Department during a 30-day public comment period.

When will Keystone XL be cancelled?

January 20, 2021 Melissa Denchak. UPDATE: June 9, 2021: TC Energy announced that it is canceling the controversial Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, putting an end to a fossil fuel project that endangered waterways, communities, and the climate, which President Biden denied a key permit for on his first day in office.

Who awarded the Keystone XL project?

Trump, who announced a new America First policy, has awarded the first major US infrastructure project (Keystone XL) to a Canadian company.

How much tax revenue will be generated from Keystone XL?

Construction of Keystone XL would cause a short-term tax revenue increase (primarily from sales and use taxes) of $66 million. Once the pipeline is operating, 27 counties will collect an additional $56 million in taxes. The pipeline won’t affect property values, according to the government.

How many jobs would Keystone XL support?

Once the pipeline is operating, maintaining it would support 160 jobs in the region, according to an economic report prepared for the Dakota pipeline owners, Energy Transfer Partners. As for Keystone XL, it would need a mere 50 people to maintain it -- 35 employees and 15 contractors -- according to TransCanada.

What pipelines did Trump build?

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that construction would move forward on the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines , both of which had stalled under the Obama administration. The decision was a blow to environmental activists and supporters of tribal sovereignty, but was touted by the White House as a great boost to the American economy.

How much will the Dakota Access pipeline generate?

The projects would also increase local tax revenue. Once the Dakota Access pipeline is operational, it will generate about $55 million in property taxes, split across four states, according to estimates.

What happens during the Dakota Access pipeline?

During construction, towns along the pipeline’s path are likely to see local booms in business, as workers spend money on lodging, food and entertainment. This has already happened along the Dakota Access corridor. However, like the construction jobs that fuel it, the boom is temporary.

How much did the BP oil spill cost?

The five-year cleanup of BP’s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, starting in 2010, cost the company $62 billion. That doesn’t include the cost of decreased tourism, diminished wildlife and land that becomes unusable. It also doesn’t account for potential long-term health effects.

Why is Keystone XL bad?

The pipeline passes through an active earthquake zone. One bad spill could permanently poison the Ogallala Aquifer, which provides drinking water to millions of people, and 30 percent of our irrigation.

What are the Chinese doing to the world supply chain?

Chinese leaders have seized key elements of the world industrial supply chain, like rare earths. According to our government, they engage in pervasive industrial espionage. They have threatened American companies like Apple, Google and Walmart. In short, they know how to play the game.

Is Keystone pipeline good?

Here is another reason, perhaps the best reason of all: It doesn't do us any good. China, yes. The Koch Brothers (who own the refining capacity that would be used), yes. Us, no.

Does the pipeline pass through earthquake zones?

The pipeline passes through an active earthquake zone. One bad spill could permanently poison the Ogallala Aquifer, which provides drinking water to millions of people, and 30 percent of our irrigation. Here is another reason, perhaps the best reason of all: It doesn’t do us any good. China, yes.

How much money will the Keystone pipeline contribute to the US economy?

It is believed that the Keystone XL pipeline has the potential to contribute more than $3 billion annually to the US economy once it become operational. It would also create an estimated $2.4 billion (in US dollars) for Canada, which would be split between the government, shareholders, and company reinvestments.

How many jobs will the Keystone pipeline create?

The US State Department has estimated that the construction of the pipeline project could create up to 42,000 jobs over a two-year construction period.

How to remove bitumen from the ground?

According to the New York Times, one method includes using water and natural gas to pump steam into the tar sands , which creates the potential for a toxic runoff. Strip mining is the other option. 2.

How many barrels of oil are in the Keystone pipeline?

The Keystone XL pipeline is a delivery system that is designed to carry over 800,000 barrels of oil sands petroleum per day from Western Canada to oil refineries along the Gulf Coast of the United States. Around half of the pipeline has already been completed, but its construction has always been opposed by various environmentalist groups.

What would happen if Keystone XL went active?

In practical terms: if Keystone XL goes active, it would be the equivalent of adding 5.6 million cars to US roadways every day. 6. Tar sands oil has the potential to be highly corrosive. The oil that will be piped through the Keystone XL extension is some of the most corrosive petroleum that is used today.

Why can Canadian producers raise prices with Keystone?

With Keystone, Canadian producers can raise prices because the quality of the petroleum will be better while they are able to cut into their overhead costs at the same time. 6. The amount of emissions added to the atmosphere from Keystone XL are negligible.

Is the Dakota Access Pipeline related to the Keystone pipeline?

The issues from DAPL are often associated with Keystone XL. The protests from the Dakota Access Pipeline are often associated with the Keystone pipeline. Although the two projects are somewhat similar in what they hope to accomplish, the environmental concerns are slightly different for Keystone.

Where is the Keystone pipeline?

The Keystone Pipeline System is an oil pipeline system in Canada and the United States, commissioned in 2010 and owned by TC Energy and as of 31 March 2020 the Government of Alberta. It runs from the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin in Alberta to refineries in Illinois and Texas, and also to oil tank farms and an oil pipeline distribution center in Cushing, Oklahoma.

What are the health risks of the Keystone pipeline?

Indigenous communities are also concerned with health risks posed by the extension of the Keystone pipeline. Locally caught fish and untreated surface water would be at risk for contamination through oil sands extraction, and are central to the diets of many Indigenous peoples.

How many routes were there for Keystone XL?

In its November 11 response, TransCanada pointed out fourteen different routes for Keystone XL were being studied, eight that impacted Nebraska. They included one potential alternative route in Nebraska that would have avoided the entire Sandhills region and Ogallala Aquifer and six alternatives that would have reduced pipeline mileage crossing the Sandhills or the aquifer. The Keystone XL proposal faced criticism from environmentalists and a minority of the members of the United States Congress .

What happened to Nebraska landowners who refused to allow the TransCanada pipeline?

When Nebraska landowners who had refused TransCanada the permission it needed for pipeline easements on their properties, TransCanada attempted to exercise eminent domain over such use. Landowners in the path of the pipeline have complained about threats by TransCanada to confiscate private land and lawsuits to allow the "pipeline on their property even though the controversial project has yet to receive federal approval". As of October 17, 2011, TransCanada had "34 eminent domain actions against landowners in Texas" and "22 in South Dakota". Some of those landowners gave testimony for a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing in May 2011. In his book The Pipeline and the Paradigm, Samuel Avery quotes landowner David Daniel in Texas, who claims that TransCanada illegally seized his land via eminent domain by claiming to be a public utility rather than a private firm. On October 4, 2012, 78-year-old Texas landowner Eleanor Fairchild was arrested for criminal trespassing and other charges after she was accused of standing in front of pipeline construction equipment on Fairchild's farm in Winnsboro, a town about 100 miles (160 km) east of Dallas. Fairchild has owned the land since 1983 and refused to sign any agreements with TransCanada. Her land was seized by eminent domain .

How many barrels of oil does the TransCanada Keystone pipeline deliver?

In 2013, the first two phases had the capacity to deliver up to 590,000 barrels (94,000 m 3) per day of oil into the Midwest refineries. Phase III has capacity to deliver up to 700,000 barrels (110,000 m 3) per day to the Texas refineries. By comparison, production of petroleum in the United States averaged 9.4 million barrels (1.5 million cubic meters) per day in first-half 2015, with gross exports of 500,000 barrels (79,000 m 3) per day through July 2015.

Why is Keystone XL pipeline bad?

commitment to a clean energy economy", instead "delivering dirty fuel at high costs". On June 23, 2010, 50 Democrats in Congress in their letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned that "building this pipeline has the potential to undermine America's clean energy future and international leadership on climate change", referencing the higher input quantity of fossil fuels necessary to take the tar and turn it into a usable fuel product in comparison to other conventionally derived fossil fuels. The House Energy and Commerce Committee 's chairman at the time, Representative Henry Waxman, had also urged the State Department to block Keystone XL for greenhouse gas emission reasons.

Why was the pipeline thrown out?

The suit was thrown out by a federal judge on procedural grounds, ruling that the NRDC lacked the authority to bring it.

How many miles of pipe is the Keystone pipeline?

Fast Facts on the Pipeline. The Keystone Pipeline already exists. In fact, the Keystone Mainline is 1,353 miles of 30" pipe which extends from Hardisty, Alberta to refineries in Wood River and Peoria, Illinois. This segment has been in service since June 2010.

When did the Senate vote against the Keystone pipeline?

On November 19, 2014, the U.S. Senate voted against the passage of the bill which would allow the Keystone XL Pipeline to proceed. The vote was one shy of passage at 59-41.

What are the arguments against the oil sands project?

These groups argue that the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with the development of Canadian oil sands is harmful to the environment compared to conventional oil or renewable fuels. Most objections center on the extraction of the oil, but some suggest the project will only make the U.S. more dependent on fossil fuels. There is also an argument on the impact it may have on the long-term use of land and the harm it may cause to agriculture and cattle grazing. A leak in the pipeline is a primary concern along with the ability to respond quickly to a disaster of this nature. I've also heard opponents say that the project will not create very many high-quality or long-lasting jobs.

How far is Keystone XL pipeline?

This portion would transport oil over 435 miles through 36" pipe running from Cushing, Oklahoma to Port Arthur, Texas. The second segment, called the Keystone XL, would run 1,179 miles from Hardisty, Alberta to Steele City, Nebraska.

Why was the Ogallala pipeline denied?

The original petition for permit was denied on January 18, 2012 due to environmental concerns. Specifically, the original pipeline route would have passed through an environmentally sensitive area of Nebraska known as the Sand Hills region. This area has highly porous soil and shallow groundwater. The Ogallala aquifer is also in this region and the pipeline would have posed a potential threat to the drinking water. A revised permit was resubmitted in May 2012 which contained an alternate route. It was denied.

How many jobs will the pipeline create?

For example, the pipeline will increase the diversity of the U.S. petroleum supply. It will also create up to 43,000 jobs, the majority of which will be permanent.

Is the Ogallala pipeline a threat to the water supply?

The Ogallala aquifer is also in this region and the pipeline would have posed a potential threat to the drinking water. A revised permit was resubmitted in May 2012 which contained an alternate route. It was denied.

Why is the Keystone pipeline important?

The Keystone XL pipeline was designed to transport oil to the Gulf Coast because refineries in the region are already equipped to process heavier crude oils, like those found in Canada’s Alberta province. The same kind of crude oil comes to the region from Latin America. If the pipeline transfers as much crude oil to the Gulf Coast as ...

Where does Keystone XL pipeline go?

What gets exported. The Keystone XL pipeline will transport crude oil from Alberta, Canada to Nebraska. The oil will then flow through another pipeline to Gulf Coast refineries, where it will be refined into petroleum products like gasoline.

What pipeline did Trump approve?

President Trump’s approval of the Keystone XL pipeline brought protests from opponents who say it will not benefit the U.S.

Why did Maine reverse the minimum wage?

After the minimum wage for tipped workers was raised in Maine, the state "reversed that decision due to restaurant employees organizing en masse against the measure."

Which state has the second highest millionaire tax?

New York state has the "second highest millionaires tax in the nation."

Does the Gillibrand pipeline affect gas prices?

The U.S. State Department did not respond to most of Gillibrand’s claim but did comment on how the pipeline could affect gas prices. "As the final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement makes clear, gas prices throughout the United States are primarily driven by global market factors," a spokesperson said.

Who is building the TransCanada pipeline?

TransCanada, the company building the pipeline, confirmed in an email that the pipeline was designed to reach refineries in the Gulf Coast region.

Root of The Problem

More Production, But Higher Costs For Americans

• Even if the pipeline was already built, it wouldn't help with the price at the pump, Nemet added, noting that the U.S. has already doubled its oil production over the last 15 years. "And yet, we still have $100 per barrel oil." With inflation soaring, gas prices have been increasing for months — hitting an average of $4.33 a gallonon March 11, acco...

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