US speeds through new Keystone XL leg (legislation)

[Octafish]

Source: Financial Times

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US speeds through new Keystone XL leg

By Richard McGregor in Ripley, Oklahoma
Financial Times, March 22, 2012

The US will expedite the approvals for the southern leg of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, Barack Obama will announce on Thursday, in a largely symbolic move aimed at countering charges his policies have helped push up petrol prices.

Mr Obama, on a four-state tour of traditional and alternative energy centres, will say the southern leg from Cushing in Oklahoma to the Gulf Coast in Texas would become a “priority” infrastructure project.

Keystone XL promoter TransCanada already has one pipeline, known simply as Keystone, flowing from Canada’s Alberta province to an Illinois hub and Cushing. Building the southern leg of Keystone XL would link the line to the Gulf Coast.

In practice, the White House announcement will do little to speed up construction that was scheduled to start in June on a pipeline designed to ease a distribution bottleneck in the Oklahoma oil hub.

Read more: http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/44ab7d08-741f-11e1-9951-00144feab49a.html?ftcamp=published_links/rss/markets_commodities/feed//product#axzz1prULpF6K

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Its almost funny how fast government can move for oil companies.

[Amonester]

1. It's not like the oil executives hold them hostage at every turn.

They hold the big bucks after all... (you know, all those "future" lobbyist golden "parachutes" promises..., among other "$tuff&quot .

[polichick]

2. To hell with those pesky environmentalists...

I guess the prez doesn't mind suppressing the vote after all.

[MH1]

3. "In practice, the White House announcement will do little to speed up construction"

Did you read that line?

Obama is acting politically. Also, according to NPR, the southern leg is relatively non-controversial. (I haven't had time to investigate that statement, but it sounds reasonable, since all the stuff I saw from enviro groups previously has been about other, environmentally sensitive areas).

So, if he's just trying to make political hay out of what's already happening, which isn't where the real problem with the pipeline is anyway, I'm fine with that.

I get that Obama is hardly the most eco-friendly prez we could hope for. But of things he could do, this doesn't seem that awful.

[Octafish]

4. Yeah, I did read that line.

It's another example of how what President Obama says is different from what he does.

Thanks for pointing it out!

[Lionel Mandrake]

5. The White House announcement will do little to speed up contamination of the Ogallala Aquifer.

Since the aquifer is doomed anyway, what difference does it make whether it is destroyed now or later?

[Earth_First]

8. Why not play "No pipleline. Period." politics...

You know, like a true Demcorat would do.

F*ck 'the game'.

[bl968]

6. Boycott the Financial Times...

Due to the abusive header on this message please try to avoid Financial Times Articles... Traffic is traffic doesn't matter if it comes from a cut and paste or their unique share system.

Here is an alternative to the Financial Times piece...

US President Barack Obama has pledged to speed approval for the southern leg of the stalled Keystone XL pipeline.

Speaking in the oil hub of Cushing, Oklahoma, he ordered officials to "cut through the red tape" and make fast-tracking a federal review a "priority".

Mr Obama's speech comes on day two of an energy tour spanning four US states, including Nevada and New Mexico.

Analysts say he is politically vulnerable to rising fuel prices during an election year.

Read More: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17479300

[cstanleytech]

7. First, this isnt new news it was posted 2 - 4 days ago this is just a minor update.

Second, wasnt it the northern section that would have connected to canada that everyone was largely concerned with that would have involved the oil sands stuff or maybe I misunderstood what people were complaining about a few months ago when it was being talked about before Obama put a hold on it.

[Jakes Progress]

9. Second

Last edited Sun Mar 25, 2012, 02:07 AM - Edit history (1)

We will give you time to catch up.

Yes, this is a sell out. Yes, it is an environmental nightmare. Yes, people who said he wouldn't do it are now saying (a) he had no choice (b) it's really not a bad thing after all.

There is little reason to hope. The republicans are on the far fringe looney right and Obama sits at center right keeping anything from going left.

[cstanleytech]

10. That doesnt address my question which I will repeat.

Was it or was it not the northern leg of the pipeline that would have gone into canada that to allow for the transportation of the oil from the oil sands that was the major concern?