Keystone XL Pipeline Debate Summary

715 Words2 Pages

The article I have chosen for my assignment is about TransCanada's battle to approve their Keystone XL pipeline project. The main participants discussed in the article are Canadian pipeline company TransCanada corp, Bold Nebraska, a Nebraska landowner group and opponent of the pipeline, former Nebraska governor Dave Heineman, U.S. President Barack Obama, and Nebraska's Public Service Commission (PSC).

The main issue discussed in the article is TransCanada's change of strategy, regarding new developments in their seven year battle to gain approval for the construction of the Keystone pipeline. Previously former Republican governor Dave Heineman had given TransCanada a route and eminent domain rights in Nebraska to build their pipeline. Due …show more content…

The state of Nebraska currently has a Republican governor, who approves of the pipeline and is actively trying to convince Barack Obama of the economic benefits the pipeline can provide. Another potentially positive factor for them is the upcoming presidential election. If a pro-pipeline candidate is elected president, that will eliminate another hurdle in the approval process. Another positive factor is that 91% of landowners have voluntarily signed easements for the pipeline construction, so while interest groups such as Bold Nebraska may be an opponent, the actual landowners have taken a much warmer reception to the pipeline.

For TransCanada factors that can provide a negative impact include the possibility of notable pipe-line opponent Hilary Clinton winning the presidency, and interest groups such as Bold Nebraska, and many environmental activists continuing to find ways to put roadblocks in the way of getting definitive approval of their pipeline project. Another potentially negative factor is the PSC declining to give approval to the pipeline. I feel approval will most likely be declined by the PSC, as if TransCanada felt they would receive their approval, they would have already reached out to

Open Document