The XL Keystone Pipeline

The XL Keystone Pipeline And The Effects it has on the Environment Melody N. Williams Bryant and Stratton College

The Keystone Pipeline

Hypothesis

While the keystone pipeline might seem like a great idea to some; to others, it may seem harmful to our society putting the U.S in a financial deficit. Creating more harm then good to the environment. Will the keystone pipeline really create a great amount of jobs? Or will it be just another problem added on to the numerous problems the United states already have.

Objective

Educate you on the XL Keystone pipeline and what it doesIdentify the benefits and/or how it can harm our society as a whole.Explain those for or against the keystone pipeline.

Essential QuestionsWill the Keystone pipeline create jobs?Will the Keystone pipeline be harmful to the environment?Can the Keystone pipeline limit some of the Greenhouse gases?

What is the Keystone pipeline?The Keystone pipeline network carries oil from Canada into the United States. There are several existing segments of the pipeline, extending south from Alberta, Canada and across the U.S./Canada border to terminals in Illinois, Nebraska and Oklahoma. (Lallanilla, n.d.).

The Keystone oil pipeline system is designed to carry up to 830,000 barrels of petroleum per day from the oil sands of boreal forests in western Canada to oil refineries and ports on the Gulf Coast.(Koffler,2013).

The Canadian company TransCanada initially proposed the pipeline in 2005 and applied to the State Department for a construction permit in 2008. .(Koffler,2013).

Why is the keystone pipeline a subject of political debate?

Environmentalists oppose the project because it would create a conduit to market for petroleum extracted from the Alberta oil sands. unconventional energy source requiring far more fuel, water and carbon emissions to extract than conventional oil and gas.Keystone XL could help cut US reliance on Mideast and Venezuelan imports by up to 40 percent. He cites a 2010 US Department of Energy study that he contends says more Canadian oil would help reduce US imports of foreign oil from sources outside of North America.(Clayton,2012).

What are the arguments in favor of the Keystone XL pipeline?

The Keystone could create tens of thousands of jobs. As youve probably noticed, the economy needs jobs, and so does a president who cant seem to create very many of them.

Democratic advocates of the keystone pipeline believe it is in America best interest to import oil from Canada than other middle eastern countries.

Keystone will bring energy security to the United States during what has been recently some very unsettling times overseas Alex Pourbaix, TransCanadas president for energy and oil pipelines, said in a congressional hearing in December.(Clayton,2012).

Keystone Pipeline Protest

(thinkprogress.org, 2011)

What are the arguments in favor of the Keystone XL pipeline?(CONTD)

Democratic advocates believe that rejecting the keystone pipeline will deal a tremendous blow to the Alberta oil sands, significantly reducing Alberta oil production, which they believe will reduce greenhouse gases to the benefit of the environment.

The advocates also believe that the likelihood of a spill is reduced if traveled through pipelines as opposed to trucks and tankers. And the pipeline ensures that less fuel will be used in transport; which is all good for the environment

as opposed to tankers and other modes of transportation, and then a pipeline ensures that less fuel will be consumed in transport; all of this good for the environment.

Disadvantages of the Keystone XL pipeline.The Keystone XL extension could place the water contained in the Ogallala Reservoir at risk of pollution, thereby potentially affecting the water supply of millions of consumers.

According to a report from Cornell University's Global Labor Institute, in 2010 American pipeline accidents cost $1 billion in repairs, released more than 170,000 barrels of oil into the environment, and resulted in the deaths of twenty-two oil industry workers.

The State Department has found that the existing Keystone pipeline has already failed 14 times since it began operations in 2010 -- one of those leaks dumped 21,000 gallons of crude oil -- and the new Keystone XL pipeline could be reasonably expected to fail about two times a year each year of operation. (Lallanilla, n.d.).

Disadvantages of the Keystone XL pipeline. (CONTD)

The National Resources Defense Council released a study further indicating that the Keystone expansion would be more likely to suffer spills than conventional pipelines because the Keystone pipeline carries bitumen slurry, which is heavier and has a higher proportion of solid material than conventional oil.Millions of Americans will spend 10 to 20 cents more per gallon for gasoline and diesel fuel as tribute to our friendly neighbors to the north, the highly respected Dr. Verleger wrote. The Keystone XL pipeline will move production from Canadian oil sands to a Deepwater port from where it can be exported. (Clayton,2012)

Keystone Pipeline Job

The keystone pipeline is only guaranteeing 32 permanent jobs. Which is not a lot considering the risk that are being taken. As well as the amount of money being used to fund the keystone pipelineA 2011 report from Cornell University's Global Labor Institute indicates that the vast majority of jobs will be temporary and that of TransCanada's $7 billion budget, only $3 billion will affect US jobs figures, thereby translating into fewer employment opportunities

Alberta Pipeline Burst

SummaryTaking into account the advantages and disadvantages of the keystone pipeline. I am not for the keystone pipeline considering the large amount of risk being taken. As a citizen living in the united states to which this pipeline will effect the most. The benefits of the pipeline is not worth the risk that are being taken. The keystone pipeline can put the U.S in financial deficit which weve already experience. The keystone pipeline is also a threat to our environment if a spill was to occur the clean up would be expensive. The keystone pipeline at this moment is not beneficial enough or worth the risk to give it a chance.

The Keystone pipeline Environment impact

Image: Photo. Retrieved from http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Keystone+Pipeline+negative+impact+graph

References

Issitt, M. (2015). Counterpoint: The Keystone Pipeline Poses an Unacceptable Risk to the Environment and Will Not Provide Sufficient Economic Benefit. Points Of View: Keystone Pipeline, 1. http://eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?sid=81de9179-9151-4731-bb48-1c1a3403fe10%40sessionmgr4001&vid=8&hid=4213&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#db=pwh&AN=84783231Koffler, K. (March,2015) http://www.whitehousedossier.com/2013/03/15/reasons-obama-approve-keystone-pipeline/Keystone XL Pipeline Benefits U.S. And Canada, Alberta Premier Says. (2015). Morning Edition (NPR), http://www.npr.org/2015/02/04/383724544/keystone-xl-pipeline-benefits-u-s-and-canada-alberta-premier-says

References (CONTD)

Lallanilla, M.(n.d.).Retrieved from http://greenliving.about.com/od/scienceandtechnology/a/Keystone-Pipeline.htmImage: Photo. Retrieved from http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Keystone+Pipeline+negative+impact+graphDickinson, T. (2015). CANADA'S CRUDE AWAKENING. Rolling Stone, (1230), 32. http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/crude-awakening-how-the-keystone-veto-dashes-canadas-superpower-dreams-20150224Clayton, M. (2012). http://www.nbcnews.com/id/46689167/ns/us_news-christian_science_monitor/t/how-much-would-keystone-pipeline-help-us-consumers/

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