What Are the Pros of the Keystone Pipeline?
- The Keystone Pipeline can be a major job creation project. ...
- The Keystone Pipeline can be a major economic contributor. It is believed that the Keystone XL pipeline has the potential to contribute more than $3 billion annually to the ...
- It would re-establish the Alberta oil sands sector for Canada. ...
- It creates a reliable product for Gulf Coast refiners to process. ...
- It makes the Canadian economy more efficient. The oil industry in Canada is responsible for 1/6 of the nation’s economy. ...
- The amount of emissions added to the atmosphere from Keystone XL are negligible. ...
- Pipeline transportation is safer than other methods. TransCanada has essentially said that they are going to process tar sands oil whether the pipeline extension for Keystone is built or ...
- It isn’t a full pipeline project. The Keystone pipeline already exists in a completed state. At the moment, it delivers tar sands oil to the Midwest. ...
- It promotes US oil development in addition to supporting Canadian development.
What is happening with the Keystone XL oil pipeline?
What is happening with the Keystone XL oil pipeline? November 18, 2020 12:51 PM Reuters 0 Comments TC Energy Corp says it is continuing to advance its Keystone XL (KXL) oil pipeline, the $9 billion project that would move oil from the province of Alberta to Nebraska.
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 Keystone Pipeline is good?
There is already a Keystone pipeline that is shipping tar sands crude to Texas for refining; the XL is a shortcut and capacity increase. But with global demand low for oil products, having another pipeline on or off the permit table doesn’t change the price of anything.
Does the Keystone Pipeline affect gas prices?
What are some potential benefits of the Keystone pipeline?
Economic Advantages Keystone XL will contribute more than $3 billion towards U.S. GDP. Taxes paid by the project will mostly benefit the towns and counties it passes through. Tax revenues for counties along the pipeline route is expected to increase by at least 10% for more than half of these counties.
What is the main purpose of 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.
How does the Keystone Pipeline benefit the economy?
During construction in Canada, Keystone XL will put thousands of Canadians to work and provide numerous economic benefits for communities along the pipeline right-of-way. This will include millions of dollars in additional taxes to municipalities, as well as investments in local community initiatives.
What are the negatives of the Keystone pipeline?
10 Reasons Why the Keystone XL Pipeline is a Terrible IdeaIt won't create more jobs. ... The pipeline will run dangerously close to drinking water. ... Bad Water. ... Gas prices will rise. ... There will inevitably be spills. ... The Keystone XL is in the United States, not for the United States. ... Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change.More items...
Does the U.S. need the Keystone pipeline?
Ramped up domestic oil production and alternative supply routes have lessened the U.S.'s need for the hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil that would have been pumped daily through the now-cancelled Keystone XL pipeline, some industry experts say.
Why was the Keystone pipeline stopped?
Keystone XL was halted by owner TC Energy after U.S. President Joe Biden this year revoked a key permit needed for a U.S. stretch of the 1,200-mile project.
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.
How does the Keystone XL pipeline affect the economy?
The State Department found the project would create around 3,900 hundred direct, temporary construction jobs in the pipeline's path. It would also contribute 3.4 billion to the nation's GDP.
Was the Keystone pipeline bad for the environment?
Keystone XL and Wildlife 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 the pipeline should not be built?
Building the Keystone pipeline and opening up the Tar Sands will negatively impact national and local economies: Burning the recoverable tar sands oil will increase the earth's temperature by a minimum of 2 degree Celsius, which NYU Law School's Environmental Law Center estimates could permanently cut the US GDP by 2.5 ...
What is the Keystone pipeline debate?
Controversial Keystone XL Pipeline Is Halted TC Energy suspended construction in January when President Biden revoked a key permit. The controversial project was a major flashpoint in the debate over fossil fuels' role in climate change.
Who owns the Keystone pipeline?
TC EnergyOwned 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 ...
How much will Keystone XL increase the price of crude oil?
Keystone XL will increase the price of heavy crude oil in the Midwest by almost $2 to $4 billion annually , and escalating for several years. It will do this by diverting major volumes of tar sands oil now supplying the Midwest refineries, so it can be sold at higher prices to the Gulf Coast and export markets.
Why are people confused about the pipeline?
Why are people confused and baffled? One possible reason is politics. The proposed pipeline has been a political hot topic , and both political parties may be stretching the truth. Republicans, along with TransCanada, continue to overstate the amount of jobs we're talking about with this project. On the other side, Democrats have been citing safety and the environment as reasons this project should not move forward. Americans are caught in the middle, with various media outlets providing various numbers surrounding pros and cons to this project. It's no wonder Americans are confused.
Does Transcanda overstate the Keystone pipeline?
TransCanda overstates the number of jobs it will create with the Keystone pipeline.
Is Keystone XL a good idea?
Exactly why Keystone XL may not be a good idea —unless there are restrictions on exporting the oil out of North America, but something that will probably never happen. See a slide show of a reality check on U.S. energy sources. Read the U.S. News debate on fracking. Follow the U.S. News Energy Intelligence blog on Twitter.
Is TransCanada pipeline permanent?
TransCanada admits permanent jobs would only number in the hundreds. On the flip side, the pipeline would be permanent, and the rise in price for this oil that we already consume would rise for decades to come.
How many branches are there to the Keystone pipeline?
There is a main trunk line and eight branches to it. In comparison, the Keystone XL pipeline that generates controversy because of its placement is planned to be 1,897 kilometers upon completion. It would transport up to 830,000 barrels of oil each day for processing.
Why are pipelines important?
Pipelines are useful in the transmission of liquid items from one location to another. You have this technology in your home because a pipe drain takes sewage away from your property to the wastewater treatment plant. Fresh water supplies are available at your faucet because a pipe brings water to your property – even if you have a well drilled to access this resource. We also use pipelines to move energy products, such as crude oil, in as efficient a manner as possible.
How many barrels of oil were released from the pipeline in 2011?
The number of crude oil releases from pipelines that were greater than 500 barrels is down by 32% since 2011. Most of the incidents that do occur don’t impact the general public either, with 71% of reported incidents wholly contained with the operation facility where it occurred.
How are pipeline operators prepared for an incident?
Pipeline operators are also prepared for the unlikely event of an incident by using control room tech that can stop the flow of liquids instantly. There are emergency response plans, resource deployment procedures, and frequent communication with first responders to ensure that any adverse impact is limited.
How long is the West East pipeline?
The global oil and gas energy have some of the longest ones operating that have ever been created. The West-East Gas Pipeline stretches for over 8,700 kilometers, with PetroChina owning a 72% interest in the project. There is a main trunk line and eight branches to it.
Which country has the longest pipeline?
The United States doesn’t have the longest pipelines in the world, but it is home to the largest network of them. There are over 207,000 miles of liquids pipelines in operation at any time. That’s in addition to over 300,000 miles of gas transmission pipelines and 2.1 million miles of gas distribution pipelines.
Who is the Democrat supporting Keystone?
Democrat Joe Manchin stated his support for the Keystone XL pipeline in 2015 when the project was coming up for a vote. He said that he was “encouraged” that it would come to the Senate floor as one of the first options of legislation in the 114th Congress.
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.
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.
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.
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.
What Is Keystone XL?
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.
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 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.
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.
How much does Keystone XL contribute to the economy?
Keystone XL will contribute more than $3 billion towards U.S. GDP. Taxes paid by the project will mostly benefit the towns and counties it passes through. Tax revenues for counties along the pipeline route is expected to increase by at least 10% for more than half of these counties.
What is Keystone XL?
Energy Security and Independence. Keystone XL connects the third largest oil reserves on the planet and the second largest oil-producing region in the United States with the largest most sophisticated refining hub in the Gulf Coast.
How many people will work on Keystone XL?
Looking at the big picture, in today’s economy and high unemployment rate, Keystone XL could ensure more than 42,000 direct and indirect jobs nationwide.
Where is the Keystone pipeline located?
It runs from the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin in Alberta, Canada, to refineries in the United States in Steel e City, Nebraska, Wood River and Patoka, Illinois, and in the Gulf Coast of Texas.
Where would the Canadian pipeline go?
The Canadian section would consist of 327 miles (526 km) of new pipeline. It would enter the U.S. at in Montana, and travel through the city of Baker, Montana, where American-produced oil would be added to the pipeline, then it would travel through South Dakota and Nebraska, where it would join the existing Keystone pipelines at Steele City, ...
Is pipeline transportation safe?
Finally, it has been well-established that pipelines are, by far, the safest mode of transportation for oil and gas. Besides pipeline workers are less likely to be injured on the job and pipelines have fewer incidents per mile than trains and trucks.
Does Keystone XL have an impact on the environment?
Despite the green polemic, the State Department’s Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, and several prior environmental impact statements altogether pointed toward the same conclusion: Keystone XL would have minimal influence on the ecosystem and environment around the pipeline.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Is Keystone pipeline good for the economy?
In summary, Keystone is good for the economy, good for U.S. energy independence, and good for the American consumer.
List of The Pros of Pipelines
List of The Cons of Pipelines
- 1. Pipelines might contribute to climate change. When Bernie Sanders announced his opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline, he did so because of the threat that using crude oil products causes to the planet. “At a time when the scientific community is virtually unanimous in telling us that climate change is real, that it is caused by human activity and carbon emissions, and that it is alr…
Verdict on The Pros and Cons of Pipelines
- Pipelines are an essential component of modern life. We rely on them for many conveniences. When they are created and installed correctly, then this technology can prevent disease, distribute water, and provide us with the energy we require. The key to unlocking the benefits of this technology is to install it according to international code. When the work is done correctly, then t…