February 4, 2014

Five Years, Five Keystone XL Reviews

TransCanada submitted its application for a permit to build the Keystone XL pipeline more than five years ago: on September 19, 2008. Ever since, President Obama has wasted America’s time and money grasping for excuses to reject it. His State Department’s latest, fifth environmental review confirms yet again that the Keystone XL pipeline will cause no significant environmental impacts and support more than 42,000 jobs.

Last week, the President proclaimed that “wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do.” Over the past five years, a handful of lawyers, consultants, bureaucrats, and environmental activists have made a living haggling over the Keystone XL pipeline. Meanwhile, the President has turned his back on thousands of middle-class families in Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and other states in desperate need of jobs.   

Five Years, Five Reviews, Same Conclusions

Major points in Keystone XL’s five-year struggle

2008

  • 9/19/08 – TransCanada applies to State Department to construct Keystone XL pipeline.

2011

  • 7/25/11 – The Obama Administration says, “the Department of State ... has publicly committed to reaching a decision before December 31, 2011.”
  • 11/10/11 – President Obama announces his Administration will not make a decision on the application until after the 2012 election.
  • 12/23/11 – The House and Senate unanimously approve, and the President signs into law, legislation requiring approval of the pipeline within 60 days unless the President determines the project does not serve the national interest.

2012

  • 1/18/12 – President Obama rejects the Keystone application, citing complaints about the route. TransCanada has already agreed to an alternative that satisfies local officials. 
  • 3/8/12 – President Obama lobbies the Senate to kill an amendment calling for congressional approval of the pipeline -- 11 Democrats join all voting Republicans in favor of the project.
  • 3/22/12 – President Obama takes credit for expediting the construction of the Oklahoma to Gulf Coast portion of the Keystone XL project -- over which he had no approval authority.
  • 5/4/12 – TransCanada reapplies, using its new route.

2013

  • 3/14/13 – At a meeting with Senate Republicans, President Obama promises that a final decision on the Keystone XL pipeline will be made by the end of 2013.
  • 3/22/13 – The Senate calls for approval of the pipeline by a vote of 62 to 37, with 17 Democrats joining all Republicans in support of the project.
  • 6/25/13 – President Obama says he will consider the pipeline’s effect on the climate in making his decision to approve or reject it.

2014

  • 1/31/14 – The State Department issues its fifth environmental review in five years concluding that the Keystone XL pipeline will have no significant environmental impact.

There are no more excuses, yet President Obama still wants to hear more. His chief of staff this weekend said he wants to hear from the EPA, the Energy Department, and others. He refuses to take “yes” for an answer and continues his search for any reason to say “no.” The President should quit playing politics and approve the Keystone XL pipeline immediately.

Issue Tag: Energy