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Page added on May 5, 2012
KEYSTONE reapplies for pipeline permit
The Canadian company seeking to build the massive Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL pipeline through the U.S. reapplied for a permit on Friday, pushing the politically sensitive issue back onto President Obama’s plate six months before the election.
TransCanada announced it has asked for permits to build the pipeline into Nebraska, and will eventually submit a new route skirting environmentally sensitive lands in Nebraska — the sticking point that caused the Obama administration to reject its previous application.
In a statement, TransCanada President Russ Girling made it clear he was appealing to Mr. Obama’s own stated goals of boosting American energy supplies. He also said the thousands of pages of environmental reviews already completed for the earlier application should convince the president to speed this new permit along.
“The multibillion-dollar Keystone XL pipeline project will reduce the United States’ dependence on foreign oil and support job growth by putting thousands of Americans to work,” Mr. Girling said.
But the Obama administration, facing intense pressure from congressional Republicans and leading business groups to approve the plan, has already signaled it would likely delay a decision until next year.
The State Department last year tried to put off a decision about TransCanada’s first application until after the election, arguing it needed more time to study the issue. That move delighted the president’s environmental allies who fear a future catastrophe, but angered many of his labor union supporters, who say the pipeline will produce jobs.
Congress then passed a bill requiring the president to expedite his decision, and faced with the tighter deadline the State Department ruled against the application.
Now, Republicans said Mr. Obama has a do-over.
“Today there is just one person standing in the way of tens of thousands of new American jobs: President Obama,” said House Speaker John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican. “After nearly four years of review, delay and politics, he is out of excuses for blocking this job-creating energy project any longer. Every state along the proposed route supports the pipeline, and its builder has jumped through every bureaucratic hoop.”
Nebraska officials were split on the earlier pipeline route, but have reportedly come to an understanding over a new route to the east of the sensitive Ogalallah Aquifer.
The State Department, which has a role in the approval process because the pipeline would cross the U.S.-Canada border, said in a statement that it had received the application and would put it through “a rigorous, transparent and thorough review.”
The planned pipeline would carry oil from Canada’s tar sands into the U.S. for refining and shipment.
Mr. Obama earlier this year said he would try to speed some parts of a pipeline that runs from Oklahoma to refineries on the Gulf of Mexico. That move could help reduce a glut of oil awaiting refining in the center of the country, but would not bring new supplies onto the market, energy analysts said. Those analysts also said Mr. Obama’s move wouldn’t actually speed up that process, since that portion of the pipeline was scheduled to begin construction this summer already.
11 Comments on "KEYSTONE reapplies for pipeline permit"
BillT on Sat, 5th May 2012 3:02 pm
“… The planned pipeline would carry oil from Canada’s tar sands into the U.S. for refining and shipment….”
So we get to pollute our water and all we get is to make the elite richer as it passes through on it’s way to Asia. It will NOT lower gas prices or any other prices. The Canadians could pipe it west to the coast, but Canadians don’t want it either for the same reasons.
SOS on Sat, 5th May 2012 3:30 pm
This pipeline is a critical link in our energy supply. The delay the president has caused is a prime example of politics fullfilling the prophecy of peak oil.
Peak oil is a creature of politics not a real physical constraint. Hopefully the pressure will build and politics will have to yield to common sense.
The Keystone is going to take $20-$30/brl off the backs of producers in North Dakota. That money goes to Warren Buffets BN RR now and Mr. Buffet is completlyl on board with whatever the president wants.
Its important our policies as a nation assure orderly and comprehensive development of all of Americas resources. That is not the case right now. Dont be a flat earther on this one, the paradigm of oil/gas productoin has changed forever. Dont let politics continue to cost everyone millions in artifically high energy costs.
Indigoboy on Sat, 5th May 2012 5:41 pm
@ SOS
I struggle to see why a refinery would (patriotically), let Americans have a discount on the fuel it produces, if some other country in the world, is able and willing to pay top dollar. A business is out to get the maximum price it can for its product. This applies whether you produce petroleum or a piece of furniture. If I am missing something here, please explain.
Mort on Sat, 5th May 2012 6:33 pm
Researching the facts I found Keystone is needed to bring the heavy, sour and nasty “oil” produced in the Tar Sands (ain’t called tar for nothing) to refineries on the Gulf Coast that can handle the crap. Maybe western Canada doe snot have that refining capacity?
Anyway, precious little of it will find its way to US gasoline tanks as most will ship the the highest bidder, most likely in Asia. As for the future environmental disaster… they had better take their time and make sure that if this sucker leaks or is blow up it doe snot permanently ruin or contaminate the Ogalallah Aquifer. Otherwise, a huge swath of US agricultural business and food production will be in jeopardy as will the family farmer and the jobs they create up and down the supply chain.
And yes SOS, we may have a lot of oil but the issue is price and production and the US ain’t ever gonna produce enough anymore to be self-sufficient, even if we drill in your backyard. We need to find alternative energy sources and conserve what we got now. This is a national defense priority and the DOD knows it, just read their report on peak oil.
As for the “jobs” created by the pipeline, they are construction jobs, ephemeral in nature, great while they last and then they go away forever. Not quite a career.
george on Sat, 5th May 2012 7:47 pm
tens of thousands of jobs
lololololol
what absolute horse shit
Plantagenet on Sat, 5th May 2012 10:54 pm
It will be interesting to see if Obama is stupid enough to block this pipeline twice.
Rick on Sun, 6th May 2012 12:09 am
SOS, STFU! You troll!
The pipeline is just plain stupid. It will only benefit the oil companies, and will do nothing for job creation, and will help to further destroy the environment. But, SOS, sounds like you don’t give a shit about doing the right thing.
BillT on Sun, 6th May 2012 1:18 am
SOS is a Big Oil troll/pimp/stooge…or a fool.
This pipeline should never be built.
armaggedon51 on Sun, 6th May 2012 3:19 am
As a Canadian, I am really stunned by the power of those Canadian oil companies have in your country. They absolutely want to fix you with our dirty crude and convince you that you need it for your own good. Amazingly, those same Canadian companies are more interested in securing your supply then secure OUR own Eastern Canadian supplies, which are left in the wind with forced international imports. True that Canadian control of those companies are long gone. But don’t kid yourself, they are only after your money (and Asia money), period.
DC on Sun, 6th May 2012 5:08 am
There is a question I have about TCP and I cant seem to find a straight answer.
Who exactly owns TCP? I have searched many sites and not one seems to have anything to say about who actually owns majority of stock or has ownership period.
All the finanical sites seem to say same thing, shareholder info is usually listed as N/A, if they even say that much.
While it seems….very difficult to parse out exactly who owns TCP, it wasnt too hard find out who owns 50% of keystone.
its…
http://www.transcanada.com/3024.html
If anyone here can find out, please by all means, link a source. The only thing remotely close was a slim refereence to forigners controlling 30% of the company. But it was hardly a source one could quote, nor did that seem credible in any event.
MrEnergyCzar on Sun, 6th May 2012 6:56 pm
The oil wouldn’t even be used in the states. I wonder if people even know its for the export market…
MrEnergyCzar