TransCanada Keystone Pipeline filed an application for a Presidential Permit from the U.S. Department of State in 2008 to manufacture and run the Keystone XL Project. The controversial project would be made up of 1,700 mile pipeline to carry crude oil. This oil would be primarily transported from Alberta, Canada to Texas and Oklahoma. Additionally, stops would be made in North Dakota and Montana for delivery points. The pipeline would cost approximately seven billion U.S. Dollars and would traspect over 800,000 barrels of crude oil per day. Since the Keystone XL Project was filed in 2013 it has been publicly opposed and supported by many. The Republican Party as well many national Labor Unions support the pipeline. The Obama Administration and many Democrats have spoken out against the pipeline. The U.S. State Department rejected the application for a permit for the Keystone XL project under the grounds that it had not have sufficient time to go over the plans. However, TransCanada is allowed to submit another application for the pipeline with an altered route.
The Keystone XL Project had generated significant debate within the U.S.. Supporters of the pipeline argue that rejecting the pipeline could worsen U.S. relations with Canada, that it would create 100,000 jobs, and that U.S. would become less dependent on the Middle East and Latin America for oil. Those in opposition to the pipeline argue that this pipeline would make the U.S. more dependent on crude oil, oil tanks often leak leading to environmental damage, and when the pipeline inevitably leaks it will violate Native American’s sovereign land rights.
Those in favor of the pipeline believe that if the U.S. were to reject the pipeline it would worsen U.S.-Canadian relations. The U.S. and Canada are trade partners and strategic allies. Rejecting the pipeline proposed by Canada would ensure that Canada builds a second, more expensive pipeline and then charges the U.S. more for their crude oil. The Canadian government has shown that if the U.S. does not allow the Keystone Pipeline they will create a pipeline with China. Not only would rejecting the pipeline anger the Canadian Government it would pit the U.S. against two of its strongest allies, Canada and China.
Another strong argument in favor of the XL pipeline is that it is predicted to create many jobs. Between construction, oil refining, and extracting from the pipeline it is predicted to create 118,000 jobs. Labor Unions, who typically do not side with Republicans have made an exception for such a large number of jobs being created in the U.S.
A third argument made in favor of the pipeline is that it will reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. Right now the U.S. imports about two thirds of its oil from the Middle East and Latin America. The Middle East and Latin American countries are currently facing political turmoil making the U.S. current sources not dependable. Creating the Key Stone pipeline would allow for the U.S. to have a more dependable option today. With alternative energy sources years away and with Canada having the third largest oil reserve in the world, they make the safe and right partner for the U.S.
Those who oppose the pipeline believe the U.S. should not become more dependent on crude oil, that there are huge environmental risks, and that the pipeline violates Native American’s sovereign land rights. The U.S. should not become more dependent on crude oil as it would counter all the progress the U.S. has made in moving towards renewable energy. Consumers will ditch renewable fuel solutions for the keystone pipeline which many believe is only a short term fix. Eventually, prices will rise and when they do the U.S. will be lagging behind the rest of the world in renewable energy sources. The opposition believes we must focus on the long term and not the easy, short term solution.
A second argument in opposition to the Keystone Pipeline is that there are huge environmental risks. There has not been a comprehensive evaluation of what the environmental risks of the pipeline would be and this must be done before the pipeline project gets approved the opposition argues. The Canadian Environmental Ministry says, oil and gas greenhouse gas emissions will rise under the proposed plan. This would be contrary to the rest of the Western world as they try to reduce their greenhouse emissions. Additionally, the Keystone pipeline would cross paths with the Ogallala Aquifer. This aquifer provides 30% of the U.S. irrigation supply and the majority of the drinking water for the over two million people who surround the region. If the Pipeline spilled it could ruin the Aquifer.
Finally, the Keystone XL Pipeline would violate Native American’s Sovereign rights. Many experts believe that it is inevitable before the pipeline spills. And when it does spill the crude oil would run into the river which passes through Native American sovereign land. Not only does this violate their sovereignty, it diminishes their resources. The pipeline crosses over sovereign land of the Dene and Creek Nations to the Omaha, Ho-chunk and Panka tribes. These tribes say they depend on the natural resources such as fishing that could very well likely be destroyed by the creation of this pipeline.