January 9, 2015 | Fuel Fix | Jennifer A. Dlouhy
We saw a lot of action on the Keystone XL pipeline today. A bill that approves the pipeline passed the House by a wide margin — 266 to 153. And, a Nebraska Supreme Court ruling upheld the route of the pipeline through the state.
While both of these actions push Keystone forward, that does not mean the drama is over. Dhouly writes, “The Obama administration reaffirmed Friday that the Nebraska ruling hasn’t altered its opposition to the House-passed legislation to immediately approve Keystone XL.”
As the debate over Keystone continues, it’s a good opportunity to ask what the pipeline would accomplish:
- David Talbot examined the financial benefit – or lack thereof – of Keystone in MIT Technology review. He found that although it depends on how long prices stay low, many of Canada’s oil sand projects will not be viable unless crude is above $60 a barrel.
- Inside Energy’s Emily Guerin looks at why, when railroads have picked up the slack in oil transportation, we even need a transcontinental pipleine. Keystone’s importance may be more symbolic than utilitarian.
