A lot has been said and written on the Keystone pipeline multi-phase project which transports oil sand bitumen between Alberta, Canada, to the United States and ultimately to the Gulf Coast Area near Houston. The currently debated phases awaiting approval concern phases III and IV of the project (so-called "Keystone XL proposal"). Phases I and II are completed. Here follows a transcript of President Obama interview with the New York Times (NYT) realised on 24 July 2013, where he addressed the issue and summed up his last stance on the issue (underlinings are mine):"NYT: Keystone pipeline -- Republicans especially talk about that as a big job creator. You've said that you would approve it only it you could be assured it would not significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon in the atmosphere. Is there anything that Canada could do or the oil companies could do to offset that as a way of helping you to reach that decision?MR. OBAMA: Well, first of all, Michael, Republicans have said that this would be a big jobs generator. There is no evidence that that’s true. And my hope would be that any reporter who is looking at the facts would take the time to confirm that the most realistic estimates are this might create maybe 2,000 jobs during the construction of the pipeline -- which might take a year or two -- and then after that we’re talking about somewhere between 50 and 100 [chuckles] jobs in a economy of 150 million working people.
NYT: Yet there are a number of unions who want you to approve this.
MR. OBAMA: Well, look, they might like to see 2,000 jobs initially. But that is a blip relative to the need.
So what we also know is, is that that oil is going to be piped down to the Gulf to be sold on the world oil markets, so it does not bring down gas prices here in the United States. In fact, it might actually cause some gas prices in the Midwest to go up where currently they can’t ship some of that oil to world markets.Now, having said that, there is a potential benefit for us integrating further with a reliable ally to the north our energy supplies. But I meant what I said; I'm going to evaluate this based on whether or not this is going to significantly contribute to carbon in our atmosphere. And there is no doubt that Canada at the source in those tar sands could potentially be doing more to mitigate carbon release.NYT: And if they did, could that offset the concerns about the pipeline itself?MR. OBAMA: We haven't seen specific ideas or plans. But all of that will go into the mix in terms of John Kerry’s decision or recommendation on this issue.
After President Obama's speech on climate change policy on 25 June 2013 at Georgetown University, the Keystone XL pipeline is seen as the main test in applying this policy line. During his speech, the president notably said that:
"Allowing the Keystone pipeline to be built requires a finding that doing so would be in our nation's interest. [...] our national interest will be served only if this project does not significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution. The net effects of the pipeline's impact on our climate will be absolutely critical to determining whether this project is allowed to go forward."
Several law suits (introduced by both oil refineries for contract breach and environmental organisations) are still opened against TransCanada Corporation which leads the project. The project has also undergone several environmental impact assessment including lastly the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) released in March 2013, which was less skeptical to the new route proposed for the pipeline..
More on the Keystone XL pipeline project: TransCanada website.
Source: Full interview is available on the NYT website.
Picture credits: Operational and Proposed route of the Keystone pipeline system, (c) Meclee
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