The Clash Over Keystone XL
By Kaye Foley
President Obama has vetoed the Keystone XL Pipeline Approval bill, but will this be the final word on the clash over Keystone?
On Feb. 11, the Republican-led House of Representatives passed its 11th bill approving the long-delayed Keystone XL pipeline. Congress sent it to the White House on Feb. 24, where the President kept his promise to swiftly veto the measure.
It’s the latest chapter in this six-year saga
In 2008, the Canadian energy company TransCanada submitted plans for the pipeline to the U.S. State Department.
The proposed 1,179-mile Keystone XL pipeline would go from the oil sands in Alberta, Canada, to Steele City, Neb. It’s the final piece of a 3,800-mile network that would bring 830,000 barrels of oil a day to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries.
There are already miles and miles of pipelines beneath U.S. soil. But Keystone has ignited a debate that has become a focal point in Washington.
Environmentalists say the pipeline is a threat to the environment. The process of extracting oil from the oil sands in Alberta releases more greenhouse gases than traditional oil drilling.
Meanwhile, supporters claim it will improve U.S. energy security while creating thousands of jobs. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., had urged President Obama to sign, saying, “The Keystone jobs bill is just common sense.”
TheWhite House opposed the bill because it circumvents the administration’s review of whether or not Keystone XL is in the national interest. President Obama is waiting for the final recommendation from the State Department.
But even though the president vetoed the bill, it’s not the end of this story. Congress could try to override the veto by a two-thirds majority vote in each chamber, although it currently lacks the votes. Supporters may also look to attach Keystone as a rider to any must-pass legislation.
So whether the Keystone XL can find another path to approval or not, at least after watching this video you can say, “Now I get it!”
