Sept. 19 marked 6 years of the Obama administration's deliberations on the proposed Keystone XL crude oil pipeline's crossborder permit application. Proponents and opponents duly observed the anniversary.
TransCanada Corp., the project's sponsor, filed a certification petition with South Dakota's Public Utilities Commission on Sept. 15 confirming that conditions under which the PUC issued a construction permit for the pipeline are as strong as before-and, in some cases, even better.
"Construction alone will bring between 3,000 and 4,000 direct and indirect jobs to South Dakota, will contribute well over $100 million in earnings and bring some $20 million in annual property taxes to local counties to help fund schools, roads, hospitals and other infrastructure that makes a community a better place to live," TransCanada Keystone Projects Pres. Corey Goulet said.
"In fact, the US Department of State's Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement projects that seven out of the nine South Dakota counties along the route will see their property tax base increase by more than 10% as a result of Keystone XL, with some of those counties increasing by more than 100%," he said.
"Despite the delay, our shippers continue to support this project, its economics, the proposed route, and its target market," Goulet said. "Additional and improved market agreements are now in place to transport some 100,000 b/d of US Bakken oil through Keystone XL."
The US Chamber of Commerce's Institute for 21st century also took note of the anniversary on Sept. 12, starting its Keystone XL Lost Opportunity Tour along the proposed route in Morgan, Mont., where the pipeline would enter the US from Canada.
Tour's purpose
"The tour will visit the cities, towns, ranches, chambers of commerce, and businesses near the pipeline that will benefit from the construction and continued operation of the pipeline," said Institute Pres. Karen A. Harbert.
"We know that a strong majority of Americans support the Keystone XL pipeline. Today, let's make that majority even larger," she urged.
Jane Kleeb, who heads Bold Nebraska, which opposes Keystone XL, said on Sept. 11 that she agrees 6 years is too long for the Obama administration to have deliberated-and called for an immediate rejection.
"We have a cold, tar sands-free beer waiting for the Chamber and all their front groups if they would like to come take a tour of what's really at stake along the pipeline route," she said. "What is not acceptable is a publicity tour of union halls in cities and pumping stations on pipeline company grounds. Come see what is being put at risk by this toxic project, not what fits into your prepared talking points."
