—
The Obama administration should act soon to approve the long-delayed Keystone XL pipeline project now that Nebraska has signed off on environmental concerns and developing sources of domestic and North American energy remain a top priority.
Obama declined to approve the project about one year ago, citing concerns about unresolved environmental issues in Nebraska. The pipeline would carry bitumen crude from Alberta, Canada, to Midwest and southern state refineries and have a capacity of up to 590,000 barrels a day.
The company re-routed the pipeline to address Nebraska's concerns about it running near the sensitive Sand Hills area. Gov. Dave Heineman has approved a review by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. A bipartisan group of 53 senators -- including 8 Democrats -- have sent Obama a letter asking him to now approve the project.
An in-depth environmental study has been completed. The pipeline builder, TransCanada, has complied with all environmental study requirements. TransCanada would have to buy $200 million of insurance to pay for any potential spill. The project is like many other pipelines criss-crossing the country -- a low risk venture.
The Obama administration and the State Department have final say because the project crosses international boundaries. The administration -- after crossing the t's on its own environmental review -- needs to make a determination that the project is in the national interest.
Sens. John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Max Baucus, D-Mont., wrote in their letter to the president that the administration has determined a similar pipeline that goes from Canada through Wisconsin had already been approved as one in the national interest four years ago.
While critics doubt an estimate of 20,000 jobs created by the project, it's clear there will be significant job creation and economic development with a $7 billion investment in the longest pipeline in the U.S. Another economic study showed the crude from Canada would be shipped to China instead if the pipeline to Texas refineries was not approved.
Politics seem to be delaying this project more than any perceived environmental threat. Environmentalists see it as another policy that will add more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, a direction they believe counter to other efforts to reduce global warming.
They may have some influence on Obama who doesn't stand for re-election and new Secretary of State John Kerry, considered a strong environmentalist.
But politics shouldn't drive this policy.
The U.S. needs to diversify its source of crude oil and buying from a friendly country will be a way to make us more energy independent. Many experts say stopping one pipeline will hardly make a dent in the global warming equation and that encouraging conservation -- like raising U.S. vehicle mileage standards -- will go much farther. Obama has already started down that path.
If the Obama administration delays the Keystone pipeline again, or needlessly drags its feet, it will be fighting an uphill battle on the politics and public opinion. It will be rejecting its own stated policy of a balanced and sound energy policy using domestic sources and conservation.
This battle could needlessly take up time and political capital of a second term, and it will look like Obama is "moving the goalposts" as the senators write in their letter.
It's time for Obama and his State Department to approve the Keystone XL pipeline.
Editorials
Related Photos
-
cartoon 2-6
February 5, 2013
Our View: Obama should approve Keystone
- Editorials
-
- Timing still legislative problem One can appreciate the deliberative, legislative process in Minnesota. We can respect the hours and hours of time legislators put in debating important issues. But time management seems to be an issue whatever party reins. This year is no different.
-
Legislature: Vows kept, mistakes made
There will be plenty for Gov. Mark Dayton and the DFL legislative majority to crow about this week after the conclusion of the session Monday night.
- Our View: Lakes reveal chemical abundance Even if your mother may not have had scientific data at her fingertips, she obviously knew what she was talking about when she said don't drink lake water. A new study makes that advice more important than ever and raises concerns about how we treat
- Press 'shield law' is a bad idea Press 'shield law' is a bad idea The Obama administration announced last week that it is throwing its support behind the press shield law that has been stalled in Congress since time immemorial. Critics insist that the administration, suddenly mired
-
Shelter for homeless right start
To Mankato civic leaders for, once again, stepping up to address a growing demand for shelter by homeless women. The needs appears to be dramatic and continuing even though the Theresa House, Welcome Inn shelters and the CADA House program for domest
- Our View: SEC should act on ratings conflicts Money talks. In the continuing dispute over the all-too-cozy relationship between the people who create and sell financial products and the people who rate their risk, the money says: Shut up and let us do what we want. Minnesota Sen. Al Franken and
- Time runs short for Legislature Focus, Minnesota legislators, as you have many details left So much for the theory that one party controlling Minnesota's House, Senate and governor's chair would mean fast work in St. Paul. Exactly one week from the end of the 2013 regular session a
- records' seizure harms free press This has not been a good week for President Obama. First it was learned that the Internal Revenue Service was targeting conservative organizations with special scrutiny, the practice of which the White House said it was unaware. Then news surfaced th
- Investigate IRS action on groups The revelation that the Internal Revenue Service was targeting conservative groups has drawn criticism from both parties. But the Wall Street Journal this week revealed that the scrutiny went beyond groups that had "tea party" or "patriot" in their n
- Military needs new approach in assault cases Just when you thought the sexual assault problems in the military couldn't get worse, two events emerged last week to prove you wrong. The chief of the Air Force sexual assault prevention branch was arrested on suspicion of drunkenly groping a woman
- More Editorials Headlines
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
"Be Ready": NOAA Warns of Busy Hurricane Season
SeaWorld: Penguins Are Coolest Thing in Florida
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
