A better case for Keystone XL (Case for approving it is strong and getting stronger)

Washington Post ^ | 05/01/2012 | Editorial Board,

[SeekAndFind]

THE CASE FOR ultimately approving the Keystone XL pipeline — always strong — has grown stronger.

A key environmentalist argument against Keystone XL has been that the project would encourage the extraction of bitumen, a particularly dirty oil-like substance, from the “oil sands” in Alberta. If activists could “shut in” Canadian bitumen, limiting the ability of oil companies to sell the product, they argued, perhaps petroleum firms wouldn’t be able to fully develop the oil sands.

That hope always was unrealistic, and a recent announcement from Kinder Morgan, another pipeline company, illustrates why. The firm wants to nearly triple the capacity of its existing Trans Mountain pipeline between Alberta and Vancouver — a route from the oil sands to the world market — enabling it to carry even more product than the Keystone XL would. From there, much of it would probably head to Asia. Because the pipeline exists, expanding it may not face the same regulatory hurdles — particularly opposition from native groups — that other proposals to run new pipelines to Canada’s west coast have encountered.

There is already enough spare pipeline capacity running out of the oil sands to accommodate increasing production for much of this decade, a government report concluded in 2010. While Kinder Morgan’s expansion certainly wouldn’t sate all the future demand for pipeline capacity, it would add more time before the environmentalists’ strategy could seriously impact production. And it demonstrates a critical point: Even if environmentalists manage to stop one pipeline or another, given high world oil prices, the enthusiastic support of the Canadian government, the many transport options and the years available to develop infrastructure, it’s beyond quixotic to believe that enough of the affordable paths out will be blocked. Environmentalists might succeed, however, in relocating some construction jobs outside the United States.

[Gay State Conservative]

The Compost is in favor? Why cover me in flour and bake me for 40 minutes!

[Recon Dad]

What would happen if they built both pipelines and China bid up the price over the world market price, how much oil would be flowing south to the states?

[Gay State Conservative]

What would happen if they built both pipelines and China bid up the price over the world market price, how much oil would be flowing south to the states?

If it's liquid and it burns it goes into the giant petroleum tub for worldwide consumption.*Somebody* will buy it.With China's demand and OPEC market manipulations it will be used.

[Buckeye McFrog]

translation: PM Harper has already flipped yinz the bird, so SHADDDUP already!

[Recon Dad]

I understand Fungibility, but I saw a commodity we used in my industry go through the roof due to China voracious need for this raw material. One day we were paying $10 a ton a month later over $200 a ton.

China realizes what our present leadership does not, without energy modern society collapses.

[spokeshave]

They realise it ...that’s why they are doing it....deconstructing the USA.

[newzjunkey]

The WA Post editorial board adopts the Republican viewpoint? Wow.

How many months (or years) have Republicans argued the Canadian oil sands output will just go to China if we don't get Keystone XL online and it'll also cost thousands of U.S. jobs?

If nothing else Romney, et al. can beat Obama over the head with this WaPo editorial.