Keystone XL Pipeline Case Study

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Drawbacks Associated with the Keystone XL Project
The Keystone XL Pipeline is a proposed 1,100 mile long oil transportation pipeline that begins in Alberta, Canada and ends in Steele City, Nebraska. It would join an existing pipeline and it would carry the potential to elevate the production of oil sands in Alberta Canada. In turn, the increased production would emit higher levels of greenhouse gases. The destruction of natural wildlife habitats is a major consideration for this project as well as the threat of an oil spill that could contaminate underground water sources. The minimum price per barrel that oil would have to be for oil companies to break even is $80.00, while the current price per barrel of crude oil is about $50.00. The current price of oil is not high enough to substantiate the project. The project would create 24,000 construction jobs over the next two years, only 50 jobs would be permanent once construction is complete. The Keystone XL Pipeline should be abandoned because the negative environmental impact far outweighs any positive economic impact.
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The State Department conducted a review of the project to make sure it was in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and released its findings in 2011. President Obama denied the permit in 2012 because there was an issue with the delicate ecology of the Sand Hills region in Nebraska. TransCanada offered to reroute the project to protect the Sand Hills ecology. It was the decision of President Obama to hold off on his decision and see what ruling the Nebraska Supreme Court would have. In 2014, attempts in the Senate were not successful for people who want the project approved but there were not sufficient votes to move legislation for Presidential