Keystone XL Pipeline


I was furious today when I heard the president said “No” to the Keystone XL pipeline.

He is saying NO to shortening our transportation pathways for crude oil supplies, NO to getting supplies from a stable and reliable ally, NO to sending a positive economic message, and most of of all NO to shovel -ready jobs!!  We will not get the 20,000+ jobs, which could lead up to as many as 100,000 jobs, which has been estimated by this pipeline going through.

Info on the pipeline:

This pipeline has been in the works for many years.  TransCanada has most recently been working with the State of Nebraska to ensure the Sandhills would not be disturbed.   (They were successfully working to go around any environmental concerns).

June 2010 TransCanada started operations on the first phase of the Pipeline.  This first phase had to do with conversion of natural gas to crude oil and construction of a “bullet line” that brings the crude oil non-stop from Canada to market in the U.S. Midwest.

Keystone (Phase II) which was an extension from Steele City, Nebraska to Cushing, Oklahoma became operational February 2011.  This 36-inch pipeline connects storage/distribution facilities at Cushing, a major crude oil pipeline hub.

The Keystone GulfCoast Expansion is approx.1,661 miles, pipeline which would start at Hardisty, Alberta and go southeast through Saskatchewan, Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. It would encompass a portion of Phase II through Nebraska and Kansas for markets at Cushing, Oklahoma continuing through Oklahoma and deliver to terminals in Nederland, Texas to serve the Port Arthur, Texas market.

Former Obama U.S. National Security advisor Gen. Jim Jones said “If we get to the point where we cannot bring ourselves to do what is in our national interest, then we are clearly in a period of decline, in terms of our global leadership and our ability to compete”.

We are going the wrong way people, let’s wake up and fast!!