The Keystone debate
Senate GOP needs Demo votes to override veto
– Eugene Register Guard Editorial
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has promised an open debate over the Keystone XL pipeline, one that will allow amendments by Republican and Democratic lawmakers…
While a Keystone bill already has passed the House and Republicans appear to have the votes needed for Senate passage, the case against the pipeline remains compelling. The project would generate only a small number of permanent jobs and would do little to promote U.S. energy independence. It poses serious risks to the environment, including potential leaks that could foul groundwater and wilderness areas…
We Respond & Your Comments
Rarely do we dive into a national issue. We do here because it’s important for readers to get both sides of an issue that might affect them.
The Register Guard (RG) claims that Keystone would create few permanent jobs. The Dept. of State (DOS) “Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement” claims we’d get 42,100 construction jobs but just 50 permanent jobs. forbes.com projects 42,000 jobs with a majority being permanent.
The RG fails to mention that Keystone construction would add $3.4 billion to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product and that year one of operation would generate $55.6 million in property taxes (DOS estimates).
Would Keystone impact U.S. energy independence? Definitely. washingtonpost.com reports that Texas’ Valero refinery alone will buy about 150,000 barrels per day, replacing a significant portion of the oil we buy from Venezuela, an unstable, unfriendly country.
“Serious risks to the environment…”? Concerns center on climate change and spills/leaks. washingtonpost.com reports: “Keystone Pipeline would have little impact on climate change, State Dept. says.” Spills? DOS reveals that Keystone has incorporated 96 “Special Conditions” and “mitigation measures” to prevent and mitigate spills/leaks and raises no alarm concerning them.
Now you have both sides of the issue.
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