Posted on 08/13/2014 2:16:13 PM PDT by Theoria
Business is booming in North Dakota’s Bakken Shale oilfields. With that boom comes a need for infrastructure. More than half of the oil out of the Bakken leaves by train or truck. But companies are working on pipelines. One proposed pipeline would cut clear through the state of Iowa.
A Texas company wants to build an 1,100 mile crude oil pipeline, from the northwest corner of the state to the southeast. In two years, the pipeline could be carrying up to 320,000 barrels a day, from the Bakken Shale Oil Fields, to Patoka Illinois, and from there, the oil would be shipped to the east coast, or the Gulf. Iowa environmentalists are not happy about it.
Environmental activists marched this week in downtown Des Moines. They say the state should not enable the transfer of more fossil fuel, because it contributes to climate change. Iowa’s Republican Governor Terry Branstad won’t say whether or not he supports or opposes the pipeline plan, but he’s not ruling out the country’s needs for fossil fuels.
“We’re going to continue to have a need for fossil fuels,” Branstad said. “This is from the United States and that is really benefiting our country. Reducing our dependency on foreign oil is a very positive thing.”
Branstad still has questions about how Iowa farmland would be repaired after the pipeline’s built. He’s met with the company behind the plan; it’s called Energy Transfer Partners.
“It’s the appropriate time to start bringing additional infrastructure in there,” said company spokesperson Vicki Granado. “And certainly pipelines are the most efficient and the safest way in this country to transport natural gas and crude.”
Granado’s also trying to sell Iowans on the thousands of jobs she says building the pipeline would create. And the company still has to win over thousands of landowners:
A couple dozen landowners gathered in a large machine shop in southeast Iowa’s rural Keokuk County. They’re surrounded by tool benches and farm equipment.
Landowners have lots of questions, like what a pipeline would do to property values. Pam Alexander worries about potential leaks. She received a letter from the company asking for permission to survey her land. She doesn’t plan to let them.
“I just don’t believe in pipelines, I don’t believe in this pipeline or the keystone pipeline, I think there’s better ways they can do this,” Alexander said. “Maybe not cheaper ways, but better ways.”
Independent energy economist Phil Verleger does not see much impact at all for Iowa. He says oil producers hope to benefit from a pipeline that will get their oil to refineries more cheaply, and hopefully bring them a higher price for their oil:
“These will be designed to get the oil down to Houston and from Houston or from Louisiana,” Verleger said. “I am sure the plan is to load them on ships and send the oil abroad.”
The company still has to go through a lengthy approval process with the Iowa Utilities Board. Right now, the State Attorney General’s Office is advising landowners to seek legal advice before committing to anything. Those letter-holding Iowans will have plenty of time to drill company official next month, when Energy Transfer Partners will hold public meetings in all 17 counties the pipeline would cross.
Simple;
Build a refinery at Keokuk.
This Verleger guy isn’t too smart. Our dumb laws have prevented us from exporting crude for decades. You don’t build a pipeline on a gamble that a law will change.
The Dems need the media to make up a new “controversy” for the Senate election.
“War on women” will be continued, but it’s kinda sterile. Need something new, hot.
Such as?
Bucket brigade.
Ha Ha Ha ha ha ha ....
I remind people there are gas lines down every street in America.
Thanks for posting that map. I was going to do it back when Keystone was a hot topic. People do not seem to realize that the country is riddled with thousands of pipelines, big and small. Rarely do they cause a problem.
Then he got in his 400 horsepower pickup and drove home on his regular 60 mile commute.
Remember folks, this is a Public Radio article. ‘Nuff said.
Mr. niteowl77
Good. Now maybe my ne’er-do-well nephew can get a decent job for a couple of months.
“Build a refinery at Keokuk”
Just as long as they don’t tear down The Cellar to do it.
There was a very cool Triumph motorcycle dealer I once knew in Keokuk.
About 1mile North of the bridge on the West side of the main drag?
•In Iowa there are 41,410 miles of hazardous liquid and natural gas pipelines in Iowa.
There are 51 pipeline operators in Iowa. (2010 Iowa Pipeline Association)
•Iowa’s pipeline system provides the state with liquid petroleum, natural gas,
anhydrous ammonia, crude oil and highly volatile liquids.
http://www.iowadot.gov/about/Pipelines.html
Couldabin...
The willfull pig-headed ignorance of liberals, on display.
She should've been laughed out of the room.
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