Keystone Pipeline Pros And Cons

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By now, many Americans have been made aware of the construction of the Keystone Pipeline XL. It has been seven years since the pipeline was first proposed by the TransCanada Corporation with the intent to “allow crude oil from Canadian oil sands to reach U.S. refineries on the Gulf Coast” (Mantel par. 2 on Chronology timeline). Some Americans are in favor of the construction of the Keystone Pipeline XL and others are strongly opposed to it. On Feb. 17, 2013, thousands of protestors gathered at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. in the hopes that President Barack Obama would reject the construction of the $53 billion oil pipeline (Snyder par. 1). The rally attracted 35,000 people making it the largest climate-change protest in U.S. history, …show more content…

The diluted bitumen found in tar sands, turns out to be the heaviest, thickest crude oil used today. The reason is so uncommon and concerning to environmentalists is because of the extra amount of energy needed to extract the oil-sands crude compared to regular oil. In summary about the use of diluted bitumen, “The U.S. refineries that process it will produce higher levels of pollutants that damage human health and lead to more smog, haze and acid rain” (Weeks par. 24). Even though the acidic crude oil that comes from tar sands allows the resulting combination to flow more easily through the pipeline, it can result in pipeline corrosion, making it more vulnerable to leaks (Guarino 3). Another concern with leaks affecting other areas, is that it will create a high concern of a potential diluted bitumen oil spill faster than average crude oil, which will sink quicker into the porous soil along its route and contaminate the state’s vital groundwater aquifer (Clayton …show more content…

According to one government analysis, the crude from Canada’s oil sands will emit seventeen percent more greenhouse gas pollution than there processes used for conventional oil, making it even more controversial against environmentalists (Davenport par. 6). The concerns are reflected in great quantity of carbon in the tar sands, “Ensure that they will play an important role in whether or not climate change gets out of hand” (Clayton 2). In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A) noticed the impact it would have on greenhouse gas emissions. According to the E.P.A., “The recent drop in global oil prices might mean that contraction of the pipeline vault spur increased development of Canadian oil sands—and thus increase planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions” (Davenport par

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