Eleven Facts about Keystone XL

TransCanada’s Keystone XL, a project that would carry Alberta oil from Hardisty, AB to Steele City, NB, was denied by President Barak Obama in late 2015. The project has been the focus of much attention on the part of paid protestors and their supporters. Here’s what they won’t tell you:

1. Global oil demand increased by 4.2 million barrels per day during the review process, undermining the notion that the resource has hit a point of diminishing returns. (https://www.iea.org/oilmarketreport/omrpublic/currentreport/)
2. The USA increased oil production by five times that of Canada over the review period. If American officials and their supporters in the environmental movement were, as they claimed, rejecting the project on environmental grounds, why were steps not taken to curb America’s own oil production? (http://www.forbes.com/sites/judeclemente/2015/05/07/u-s-oil-production-forecasts-continue-to-increase/)
3. The USA has constructed pipeline infrastructure equivalent to ten times the length of Keystone XL. This has not been the subject of public or government scrutiny. (http://business.financialpost.com/news/energy/america-has-built-the-equivalent-of-10-keystone-pipelines-since-2010-and-no-one-said-anything)
4. In 2009 Obama approved another oil pipeline from Canada, citing free trade and North American energy security. Why were these compelling arguments not enough to approve the Keystone XL project? (http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/aug/128164.htm)
5. There are currently seventeen oil pipelines that cross the Canadian – USA border. None of these projects has faced scrutiny that comes close to that of Keystone XL.
6. Globally, 160,000 km of pipelines are planned or under construction. This is equal to more than 84 times the proposed length of the Keystone XL project. (http://www.politifact.com/florida/statements/2014/mar/26/jeb-bush/while-talking-about-keystone-xl-pipeline-jeb-bush-/)
7. Over a dozen countries – including many with more emission-intensive products and deplorable human rights records—export meaningful quantities of oil to the USA.(https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_ep00_im0_mbbl_m.htm)
8. The US State Department review stated five separate times that there would be no adverse impact from the Keystone XL expansion. (http://energycommerce.house.gov/content/keystone-xl)
9. Canada is the only top oil reserve country and top supplier of oil to the USA with carbon regulations on oil production. (https://www.osler.com/en/resources/regulations/2015/carbon-ghg/carbon-and-greenhouse-gas-legislation-across-canad)
10. Even its paid protestors admitted that the fight against the Keystone XL project was primarily symbolic. (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/energy-and-resources/obama-to-reject-transcanadas-keystone-xl-pipeline-source-says/article27144973/)
11. 100% of landowners in Montana and South Dakota and 88% of affected landowners in Nebraska support the Keystone XL project. Yet a vocal minority, propped up by well-subsidized lobby groups, elicits nearly all of the media attention. (http://business.financialpost.com/news/energy/with-nebraska-keystone-xl-route-cleared-transcanada-seeks-to-acquire-land-needed-to-start-building?__lsa=6995-1205)