Summary- My current event this week discusses a mainstay issue in Congress for the past few years, the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. The pipeline would help move crude oil from Canada and the northern states of Montana and North Dakota to oil refineries mainly located in southern Texas (Map and Quick Facts). The propsed pipline would help free up the energy gridlock in our country and reduce the effects of a lack of consistent oil due to violence in the Middle East. Most senators including Senator Thune from South Dakota support the building of the proposed pipeline (News Report). However, the proposal has not yet been passed due to the majority leader in the Senate and President Obama blocking it for the past few years.
Analysis- I am entirely for building the pipeline. The economic benefits for the communities located along the pipeline would be enormous as it brings capital and jobs to dying towns. It will also help ease the energy gridlock as our underdeveloped and poorly maintained rail system can not handle the stress of increased oil traffic. The technology used will make sure that no negative, environmental impacts will be felt. All in all, the Keystone XL pipeline needs to be built to help the United States come closer to achieving economic independence.
I think that this subject is a very good subject to talk about. I agree that the pipeline is vital to our local and nation economies. One thing that I find extremely ironic is that the people we elect ( such as the president) want to create more job opportunities in the country but are stopping the building of a pipeline (jobs), drilling and pumping of oil (jobs) and refinement of oil (jobs) because it will be built over a aquifer that has over three million people and a few major cities on top of it already.
ReplyDeleteIt would be very beneficial to hav another major source of oil from a country that is not in the Middle East. This might help regulate gas prices so they do not fluctuate as much. If we can achieve this while also supplying more jobs, it seems like we should move forward with it right away.
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