Bill restarts (Keystone XL) pipeline process

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120217/NEWS01/702179904/0#bill-restarts-pipeline-process

By Paul Hammel

LINCOLN — A state senator urged Nebraska on Thursday to bypass the federal logjam over the proposed Keystone XL pipeline and restart its review of a pipeline route that would bypass the groundwater-rich Sand Hills.

Papillion Sen. Jim Smith said uncertainty over the Sand Hills bypass has played a role in holding up federal approval of the $7.6 billion project, and the sooner Nebraska approves a new route, the sooner the 1,700-mile-long pipeline from Canada's tar-sand region will be built.

"I'm a firm believer that energy independence and an affordable and ample supply of energy is critical, not only for the state but for our country," Smith said.

Representatives of Keystone XL developer TransCanada Inc. supported his bill Thursday to allow the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality to restart its review of a new pipeline route around the Sand Hills.

FULL story at link.

[BeHereNow]

1. No doubt they will use the rise in prices at the pump...

as the reason why the pipeline must endanger the well being of the
people in its proposed path.

BHN

[Robb]

2. "State official introduces dead-end bill to look tough on Obama"

...Fixed that headline.

[AlbertCat]

3. I'm a firm believer that energy independence

Which this Mississippi of sludge in a pipe has nothing to do with.

[midnight]

4. Just keep repeating no...

[ellenfl]

5. how will this supply US with energy? eom

[truth2power]

6. It won't. What I've been able to find from various sources is this:

Keystone XL is an export pipeline. It goes to the Gulf Coast where it's refined and exported. Valero, one of the companies involved, is telling their investors that its future business is in international export.

The material to be extracted from the tar sands is not light sweet crude. It's bitumin, a viscous, tarlike material, that, through the refining process can be turned into diesel fuel , at best. It's not like Americans will be able to buy back premium gasoline for use in their cars.

Furthermore, many of the refineries are in Foreign Trade Zones, where oil may be exported to international buyers without paying US taxes. So the taxpayer loses out again. We bear the environmental liability of a 1700 mile pipeline that will benefit international buyers.

Some of this I found on http://tarsandsaction.org

[ellenfl]

7. exactly. the lie that the average american will benefit needs to be vehemently debunked. eom

[Gringostan]

8. So true

So true; and such a rip-off. The American people must wake up before this corporate nightmare engulfs us.