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Loading...Victory! State Dept. Denies Keystone XL Pipeline Application
The U.S. State Department today announced its recommendation that President Obama deny the permit for the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, stating that at this time the TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline does not serve the national interest.
The decision comes after countless hours of grassroots organizing, millions of petition signatures, and the arrests of thousands of American and Canadian protesters who recognized the immense health and environmental risks posed by the Keystone XL.
Many politicians and oil industry lobbyists tried to paint the Keystone XL pipeline as America’s economy savior, claiming that it would create thousands of jobs and reduce dependence on foreign oil.
However, it was discovered in late 2011 that TransCanada intentionally inflated job creation numbers, counting jobs that lasted for two years as two separate jobs. It was also revealed that most of the oil extracted from the Canadian tar sands and loaded into the pipe would head straight for refineries on the Gulf Coast, and then be exported to other countries.
Then in December 2011, Congress tried to force the president to make a decision on the pipeline proposal, tucking the mandate into the payroll tax cut bill that Obama ultimately signed into law.
“The rushed and arbitrary deadline insisted on by Congressional Republicans prevented a full assessment of the pipeline’s impact, especially the health and safety of the American people, as well as our environment,” Obama said today in a statement.
“As a result, the secretary of state has recommended that the application be denied. And after reviewing the State Department’s report, I agree.”
The President’s words are music in the ears of the millions of Americans who signed petitions urging him to reject the Keystone XL. Over the years, Care2 is proud to have assisted the campaigns of several highly respected environmental organizations by hosting their petitions and encouraging the Care2 community to sign them. These partnering organizations include The Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Earth, ACP, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Ultimately, the State Department called for an assessment of alternative pipeline routes that avoided the uniquely sensitive terrain of the Sand Hills in Nebraska. The Department estimated, based on prior projects of similar length and scope, that it could complete the necessary review to make a decision by the first quarter of 2013.
The State Department also made it clear that the denial of this application would not prevent TransCanada from applying for permits again, once the alternative route has been proposed.
Related Reading:
Oil Spills Expected If Keystone XL Pipeline Is Approved
Read more: keystone xl, oil pipeline, president obama, protest, state department, success story, tar sands, TransCanada, water supply
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135 comments
+ add your ownI'm glad Obama at least listened to good sense. Of course, since Big Oil didn't get its way, it's now convincing the politicians under its influence to force the permit through anyway. What a bully! Not to mention how disgusted I am at the media for perpetuating the lie about 20,000 new jobs the pipeline would create. It's so unrealistic that TransCanada itself didn't even estimate that high! The media is supposed to inform us, not blatantly pass around lies to manipulate the public. Nobody would be supporting this project if they realized that it would kill more jobs than it creates, would raise gas prices in the Midwest rather than lowering them anywhere, and harm the environment big time! It's bad not just for the environment, but for the economy and society too. Who could support such a disaster?
This has nothing to do with jobs. The pipeline will damage the ecosystem. Job creation can still be achieved in other areas where is either promoting and/or enhancing the ecosystem.
For those who say The Keystone Pipeline will help to end our dependence on foreighn oil..I ask you..When did we ratify Canada as our 51st state?
Oh, and Joseph B - how about the $41 Billion, that BILLION that has gone to oil companies - the most profitable companies on the planet. You can complain about Solendra [sic] that you want, but I don't hear you complaining about that....maybe you work for BP?
People like Joseph B need to read a report not commissioned by the gas companies that will make money from the pipeline. How about listening to NASA scientists, who, I'm pretty sure, are a heck of a lot smarter than Joseph B, who called it game over for the environment.
Joseph B, perhaps you want to listen to Republican Governors in states that the pipeline would go through that don't want it.....nah, that doesn't fit into your meme.
Do a little more reading and a little more fact checking and a lot less spewing of your RWNJ BS.
After the election, there will be a report claiming that the pipeline
is safe.
For now, Obama can claim to be "green", that the US will be a leader
in technology once again, and number one in "green" technology.
Great political points to score.
Negar los permisos para el oleoducto Keystone XL es una medida más que acertada, la agresión al medio ambiente de este proyecto no puede ser compensada por ningun tipo de medida. Esperar que la poctura de Obama sea firmae y no cambie una vez pasadas las elecciones.
Joseph B is also not considering how many jobs will be lost if the pipeline is put in, and how many people will lose their homes.
And how many of the very few jobs created will be Canadian.
Joseph B. it's time for a little reality check. The State Department estimated 20 (twenty) permanent jobs would be created, Keystone themselves estimated 200. The 20,000 jobs figure is a pure fantasy pulled directly out of thin air. The reason gas prices are going up is due to the physical reality of Peak Oil, and not anything Obama has or hasn't done. And the fact is, if the so-called free market were to actually work as advertised, which means including externalities as a cost of business, and getting rid of the tax breaks and subsidies (corporate welfare) the American taxpayers give to an industry whose profits are measured in the billions of dollars, the price at the pump would be $12-15 per gallon.
That's reality. Deal with it.
Try living in Canada where we pay $1.16 per litre( thats when its at the low point--$1.40 during the summer ) --and it takes 5 of those to make a gallon--so do your math folks--and Alberta has the gas --they ship it south for you folks to cry over paying 3.00 a gallon for -- and some are happy that Obama was pressured into stopping the pipe line-AND all the jobs that would have gone with it -- BUT--don't blame Obama-- it wasn't his idea to stop it-- find out who the culprits really were behind that and go after them--NOT Obama
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