Keystone Pipeline Case Study

The Keystone XL is a controversial oil pipeline extension that would travel from Alberta, Canada, to the United States Gulf Coast. The Keystone XL should not be built because of the damage it would cause to the environment. The oil would be found within tar sands that contain bitumen. The process of extracting the crude oil uses a lot of energy and causes a large amount of greenhouse gases. Many citizens, in Canada and the United States, are outraged because it can be detrimental to the surrounding land and wildlife. TransCanada, the company building the oil pipeline, has to receive permission from the United States government to begin construction. If the United States does not have the pipeline built and chooses to not use Canada’s oil, then TransCanada will have the pipeline built elsewhere and exported to other countries. There has been a divide between those in favor of the Keystone XL and those who are not. The Keystone XL would be able to provide the United States with a reliable source of oil, but it would also take the risk of faults in the oil pipeline and ruining parts of America’s resourceful soil. The Keystone XL will cause a negative effect on the environment and damage resourceful land; therefore, the oil pipeline should not be constructed.

The Keystone XL pipeline would do little in reducing the United States dependency on Middle Eastern oil, which is actually goal established by president Obama for the sake of national security and economic growth. Another issue is that the out of the 42,000 jobs TransCanada has claimed the new pipeline will create, an analysis done by the State Department disagrees and claims “The proposed Project would generate approximately 50 jobs during operations.” All the harmful effects that the pipeline would have on the environment and the public health is not worth the creation of merely 50 permanent

The history of oil pipelines in the U.S. supports both sides of the argument, but in the end one must not rely on history to decide whether or not to implement such a controversial pipeline. The Keystone XL Pipeline could be beneficial to the US economy but the dangers to the environment must be weighed in order to decide if the new oil pipeline is necessary. We live in a world that is trying to switch over to renewable energy and help reduce global warming. The increased production of oil in the United States might not be needed even though it might be beneficial to economic

“In a few decades, the relationship between the environment, resources, and conflict may seem almost as obvious as the connection we see today between human rights, democracy, and peace (Nobel Peace Prize Medalist Maathai 2004).” A Canadian oil company that goes by TransCanada hopes to build an oil pipeline that would extend an enormous 1,200 miles onto an already gargantuan 2,600 mile long pipeline. Keystone XL represents just under a third of the entire Keystone project, and every other piece of pipe has been built and laid out. In fact, TransCanada 's pipeline system is already shipping hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil from the Canadian oil sands across the U.S. border -- and into Illinois (Diamond). The current proposal would take the pipeline on a journey all the way through to Texas. Extracting crude oil from oil sands would be enormously problematic for the environment as it causes the pumping of about 17% more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than standard crude oil extraction. Tar sand oil has levels of carbon dioxide emissions that are three to four times higher than those of conventional oil, due to more energy-intensive removal and refining processes (Friends of the Earth). The construction of the Keystone XL pipeline would stimulate employment, the effects would be temporary and the whole scheme would produce a negative long term outcome. The construction of the Keystone XL pipeline has caused

TransCanada, when asked about possible benefits of construction, stated on their website that, “Keystone XL is the definition of shovel-ready infrastructure project”. TransCanada went on to say that over 9000 hard-working Americans could be put directly to work with good-paying jobs because of the construction of the KeyStone XL Pipeline. Furthermore, while the pipeline is being created, it was estimated by TransCanada that “Over Seven million hours of labor and more than 13,000 new jobs for American workers will be created”. TransCanada goes on further, stating that “Pipelines are safe and environmentally favorable” and that they are committed to minimizing its environmental impact along the proposed route. But, TransCanada is only making these tantalizing promises in order to keep currently neutral noses out of the matter in an effort to reduce the number of naysayers of the project. In truth, the creation of the XL Pipeline is terrible damaging the environment while also hurting the proposed workers of the project.

The Keystone XL pipeline also shouldn’t be encouraged because the Keystone XL causes pollution. Firstly, the Keystone XL could cause pollution because it adds to carbon pollution. The Keystone XL will add “1.3 million to 27.4 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions each year” (Jenkins, pg.1). The Keystone XL increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere; potentially aiding in problems such as global warming, due to this, the Keystone XL should not be encouraged. Secondly, the Keystone XL pipeline adds to pollution because the Keystone XL adds to climate pollution. The Keystone XL adds to climate pollution because according to billionaire activist Tom Steyer, “Keystone XL fails his [Barack Obama] climate test” (Koring, pg.1). The Keystone XL failed Obama’s climate tests, changing the weather and potentially melting ice caps and causing floods, due to this; the Keystone XL should not be encouraged. Lastly The Keystone XL pipeline causes

The Keystone XL Pipeline Project has many pros and cons just as any project does, but this project has way bigger cons than most projects this country will face today. “The Keystone XL Pipeline is an environmental crime in progress.” “It’s also been called the most destructive project on the planet.” The major issues with the Keystone XL Pipeline are “the dirty tar sands oil, the water waste, indigenous populations, refining tar sands oil and don’t forget the inevitable; pipeline spills.” And these are just some of the environmental issues, not too mention how building this thing from Canada to Texas; 2,100 miles to be exact, is affecting the people and their land, as stated “this isn’t a little tiny pipeline,

With an increasing global population and ever industrializing society 's, environmental concern is rarely given priority over economic incentive. But what people fail to realize is that our environmental failures, and relative apathy about it set up a plethora of problems for future generations to deal with. One of the most important decisions president Obama will face in the next year will be whether or not to approve the building of the Keystone XL pipeline, a massively sized, and massively controversial oil pipeline that would stretch all the way from Alberta Canada, to American oil refineries along the Gulf Of Mexico. Despite the economic incentive present, the building of the Keystone XL pipeline should not happen because of the

The pipeline would make it possible to transport oil from North Dakota to markets and refineries in a quicker and more affordable way. It is supposed to lessen our foreign independence on oil and create thousands of jobs. That being so, what is the problem? More than anything, it has become an ethical issue. Native Americans have had their lands stolen and rights denied for centuries. The Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation relies on the

The Keystone XL Pipeline has divided North America because it is an enormous environmental issue. It has divided us due to our opinions. Many Americans see the potential it could bring to our country and economy, but there are several environmental problems to consider and health issues to think about before deciding which side to take. Not only do those factors matter but also how it could affect the lives of many Americans. There are two sides to this issue, to either approve or disapprove the Keystone Pipeline project, and by researching I will form an opinion.

In February 9, 2005, the TransCanada proposed a pipeline system that would be able to transport crude oil from Canada into the United States. The pipeline was given the name the Keystone Pipeline System. Originally, the pipeline was to run from Alberta, Canada to refineries in Illinois. However, in 2008 another proposition was raised in order to extend the pipeline even further to down to Texas. The proposition is known as the Keystone XL. The possible construction of the pipeline is a controversial topic. Entrepreneurs believe that such a pipeline will stimulate the nation's economy and lead to an increase in the amount of jobs. On the other side, environmentalists believe that the pipeline will be detrimental for the environment as the

The Keystone Pipeline is an oil system that stretches from Canada to the USA and is a proposed 875 mile pipeline project. It transfers and delivers approximately 830,000 barrels of oil per day. This project was originally developed by TransCanada and ConocoPhillips, but TransCanada bought ConocoPhillips interest and is now the sole owner of the Keystone Pipeline. There are 3 phases to the Keystone Pipeline with a fourth phase that is proposed. The Keystone Pipeline is considered the safest and most effective oil pipeline operation in North America. It

Now there are supporters of the Dakota Access Pipeline that believe the environmental risks are just possibilities that warrant a close watch on the pipeline and not the total halt of its construction. However, there is a prime example that shows what could happen with the Dakota Access Pipeline, case in point, the Keystone XL Pipeline. The Keystone XL Pipeline was commissioned in 2010 and runs from Canada all the way to Texas. The previous pipeline, Keystone, faced some of the same opposition and problems. It was being said at the time that the Keystone Pipeline would increase greenhouse gas emission and that will further affect and advance global warming issues that our planet already faces, which it did. According to usanews, “After being commissioned in 2010, it reportedly recorded 35 leaks in its first year alone, including a spill of 21,000 gallons of oil in North Dakota” (Neuhauser, 2016). Another example would be the BP Oil spill that still to this day, affecting marine and mammal life. It becomes clear that these risk become eminent and the construction of any future pipeline warrants great consideration. In addition, there has to be some

Keystone pipeline is a proposed crude oil pipeline that would be built from Hardisty, Alberta all way through Steele, Nebraska. It would stretch for 1,179 miles and it would transport up to 830,000 barrels of oil per day. The project was proposed by Trans-Canada to the United States government in 2005 and since then, it has been a controversial subject between the two neighbouring countries. The company argues that the pipeline would support more than 42,000 direct and indirect jobs while reducing American dependence on foreign oil by 40%. The president has the veto power over the decision on keystone and so far nothing has been agreed on with both parties. The project is currently being reviewed by the U.S senate.

TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL pipeline would move oil sands from Canada and shale oil produced in North Dakota and Montana to Nebraska for further delivery to the Gulf Coast where many refineries are located. This pipeline would be 875 miles of 36-inch pipe with the capacity to transport 830,000 barrels per day. Since the pipeline would cross the US border from Canada to the United States, the pipeline requires a Presidential permit from the state department. This decision is based on whether the department determines that the project would serve the nations best interests, which includes environmental impacts. Our main focus coming from the Keystone XL pipeline is the environmental impacts that come along with it.