Keystone XL Pipeline Analysis

908 Words2 Pages

Recently, TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline has become a hot debate topic. Those who oppose the Western United States oil pipeline are misled and uniformed. The US Government should authorize the Keystone XL Pipeline that would import tar sand oil from Canada. The pipeline would generate jobs and help to remove foreign oil dependency, is the safest transportation option being considered and finally will not harm or affect the environment as opponents claim. In 2013 the US State Department (S.D.) recognized the public concern for the pipeline and so they undertook the task of drafting an environmental impact statement. According to an article titled “Should the United States Authorize the Keystone XL Pipeline to Import Tar Sand Oil from …show more content…

GtC is a measure of a fossil fuel’s potential pollution and tar sand oil contains 400 GtC, 100 more than regular crude (“Should the”). Both opponents and supporters understand tar sand oil burns hotter and dirtier, and such was published in the S.D. report. The US and its citizens cannot control whether Canada exports the oil; it is out of their jurisdiction. Canada will market the valuable oil by any means necessary and the dirtier emissions will undoubtedly enter the atmosphere. Stating that the pipeline must not be constructed to control tar sand oil emissions is invalid. Denying the pipeline will not keep the oil in the ground. Opponents must realize that the oil is going to be drilled and transported, and the Keystone XL Pipeline is the best and safest …show more content…

The US Government, with the backing of the American people, should authorize the pipeline that would import tar sand oil from Canada. The pipeline would generate jobs while helping to diminish foreign oil dependency, is the cleanest and safest transportation option and finally it will not harm the environment. As Mark J. Perry, PhD, MSA, Professor of Finance and Economics at the University of Michigan states “There are few more important tasks than ensuring the Keystone pipeline gets built. Obama should approve its construction, for the good of the country” (“Should

Open Document