1/ With Biden set to take office tomorrow, we thought it'd be a good time to check in on one of his purported "Day 1" executive orders
rescinding a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline
a thread on where the US and Canada stand on the controversial oil highway
rescinding a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline
a thread on where the US and Canada stand on the controversial oil highway
2/ A quick refresher
The Keystone XL is a planned 1,210-mile pipeline extension spanning from Canada to Gulf Coast refineries
Fully functional, it would haul 830k barrels of crude oil per day thru Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska
The Keystone XL is a planned 1,210-mile pipeline extension spanning from Canada to Gulf Coast refineries
Fully functional, it would haul 830k barrels of crude oil per day thru Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska
3/ It's basically the American Dream mall of fossil fuel projects
Keystone XL has been in the works for 15+ years but faced numerous delays and legal setbacks, including former President Obama's 2015 rejection of its permit application
Keystone XL has been in the works for 15+ years but faced numerous delays and legal setbacks, including former President Obama's 2015 rejection of its permit application
4/ Why the controversy?
Many oppose the pipeline because
1. it's an $8 billion investment in fossil fuels
2. it cuts through protected lands
3. it carries "bitumen" from Albertaβs oil sands, a type of oil that creates more pollution
πΈ JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images
Many oppose the pipeline because
1. it's an $8 billion investment in fossil fuels
2. it cuts through protected lands
3. it carries "bitumen" from Albertaβs oil sands, a type of oil that creates more pollution
πΈ JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images
5/ It does have advocates
Namely, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and President Trump
They argue it will reduce reliance on foreign oil and create jobs. Plus, emissions-per-barrel have improved since the project was announced, according to Canada's ambassador to the US
πΈ Getty
Namely, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and President Trump
They argue it will reduce reliance on foreign oil and create jobs. Plus, emissions-per-barrel have improved since the project was announced, according to Canada's ambassador to the US
πΈ Getty
6/ On Sunday, the Keystone XL's developer tried convincing Biden it won't be like those other fossil fuel projects
It pledged:
- $1.7 billion in solar, wind, & battery investments
- Net-zero emissions by 2023
- A ~$785 million stake in the project for indigenous tribes
It pledged:
- $1.7 billion in solar, wind, & battery investments
- Net-zero emissions by 2023
- A ~$785 million stake in the project for indigenous tribes
7/ It might create some border beef
the Canadian portion has been under construction for months, and if Biden nixes the permit, Trudeau probably wonβt invite him to the next neighborhood potluck
the Canadian portion has been under construction for months, and if Biden nixes the permit, Trudeau probably wonβt invite him to the next neighborhood potluck
8/ Canada is definitely peeved
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney told CBC it would also hurt US and Canadian jobs and undermine national security by leaving America dependent on OPEC imports
but Biden's resolve to block the pipeline is unlikely to be shaken
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney told CBC it would also hurt US and Canadian jobs and undermine national security by leaving America dependent on OPEC imports
but Biden's resolve to block the pipeline is unlikely to be shaken
9/ Zoom out
It's a tough time to be a pipeline
last year alone, the Atlantic Coast pipeline was canceled, a judge temporarily shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the Supreme Court upheld a suspension on construction of parts of the Keystone XL
It's a tough time to be a pipeline
last year alone, the Atlantic Coast pipeline was canceled, a judge temporarily shut down the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the Supreme Court upheld a suspension on construction of parts of the Keystone XL
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