GOP to bring back Keystone pipeline bill

Republican Party leaders are vowing to resurrect the Keystone XL oil pipeline bill when the new Congress convenes in January 2015, after the U.S. Senate narrowly rejected legislation to approve the project
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TransCanada Corp’s$8 billion Keystone XL pipeline has been delayed for years by environmental concerns
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Hardisty

Tar sands

CANADA

Winnipeg

Baker

NEBRASKA

UNITED STATES

Ogallala Aquifer

Houston

Steele City

Patoka

Cushing

Nederland

MEXICO

Gulf of Mexico 

500km 300 miles
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Proposed Keystone XL pipeline

Existing Keystone pipeline

Houston Lateral pipeline(under construction)

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KEY DECISIONS OVER KEYSTONE

Nov 14: Republican-controlled House of Representatives passes Keystone XL bill to approve oil pipeline – 1,900km-long route to carry Canadian tar sands oil from Alberta to U.S. Gulf coast refineries

Nov 18: Senate votes 59-41 in favour, but result is one short of 60 votes needed to pass legislation and overcome filibuster delaying tactics of opponents. Incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pledges to press for new Keystone vote early in next Congress

Jan 2015: GOP will have at least 63 votes in favour of Keystone in new Senate – enough to pass bill

Congressional passage: To avoid expected veto by Barack Obama, Republicans could attach Keystone approval to key funding bills – making president’s decision more difficult –or get two-thirds majority in House and Senate to override veto

Nebraska ruling: Exact route of pipeline will not be set until state’s supreme court hears legal challenge by landowners in January
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Source: Wire agencies

Picture: Andrew Ottoson

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