Obama: Keystone XL pipeline not major jobs creator

[TexasTowelie]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has told House Republicans he's still weighing a decision on the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to Texas. At a closed-door gathering with the Republicans on Wednesday, Obama said jobs numbers and other benefits touted by supporters are probably exaggerated, but he did not rule out a decision to approve the pipeline, according to participants.

Nebraska Republican Rep. Lee Terry said Obama appeared "conflicted" on the pipeline, saying many of the promised jobs would be temporary, and that much of the oil would likely be exported. But Terry said Obama also indicated that dire environmental consequences predicted by pipeline opponents were exaggerated.

Terry, who supports the pipeline, said he wished Obama's comments were less negative, but he was still hopeful the project would be approved.

Read more: http://www.kvue.com/news/national/197893481.html

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Oh, it'll create jobs, all right...

To try and contain the inevitable spills.

[PatrynXX]

10. When Countdown was on Current

all I know is exactly 50 jobs would be created and that in the long wrong it would actually kill jobs. But as for the environmental impact. Don't know yet. The study that was released was released by XL. and they aren't going to be telling anything against themselves.

[mbperrin]

2. Pipelines have very few employees. For example, here in 25 counties in west Texas,

Exxon has no employees, just one contractor who flies a plane to look for leaks.

And ALL the oil will be exported. States are not allowed to tax exports, so no revenue for them, either.


And I shouldn't call it oil - it's not. It's ground-up pre-coal mixed with water to make it flow in the pipe.

[PatrynXX]

11. yeah none of our cars are equipted to run it

It's basically crap oil. Very expensive to refine and even when it's refined its too dirty

[riverbendviewgal]

3. this has been already said.

The pipeline is for the benefit of China and those who sell then dirty product.

[DallasNE]

12. None Of This Oil Will Go To China

Because tankers cannot navigate the Panama Canal. Instead it will be refined into diesel and shipped to Europe and South America.

[EC]

4. I just can't see what the repubs gain from

this whole project. The oil is exported, there are no real number of jobs (and I will never believe that a repub gives a good god damn if there were jobs or not). Is Canada going to be paying rent for the land the pipeline is on or what? I just fail to see any plus side for the U.S. from this period...it's just giving Canada a route to the gulf for THEIR OIL...once again repubs confuse who's oil it is, I'll bet. Just like the oil in Iraq is OURS.

[sangsaran]

6. Simple.

They make their owners happy.

[Nye Bevan]

5. If the pipeline is not built, the oil will be transported by sea,

which is environmentally riskier, if anything.

[mbperrin]

19. It will be sent by sea after refining to South America.

It's going to be on the water some, and I prefer that to more refineries in Texas. Let those Canadians refine it there and ship the finished product themselves - they're the ones making the big bucks.

[GoneFishin]

7. He hasn't sided with the people against a corporation or special interest yet.

I hope I am wrong, but I am not optimistic that this will be any different.

[Nye Bevan]

8. The AFL-CIO has backed the Keystone pipeline.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/28/business/energy-environment/afl-cio-backs-keystone-oil-pipeline-if-indirectly.html?_r=0

[Buzz Clik]

9. Great update, Towelie. Keep 'em coming.

[TexasTowelie]

15. The story is worth mentioning.

I do my best to support progressive causes.

[Disconnect]

13. The Republicans will get their money

As the Keystone Pipeline is carrying this tar sands oil to a Koch Reinery that is made to handle this heavy crude. Other refinerys in the midwest can mostly handle light crude so this oil is going to be worth $33 more a barrel when it gets to Texas where it will be refined and exported.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

14. Thanks for posting. n/t

[TexasTowelie]

16. You are welcome.

Besides, it is a lot easier to copy and paste an article than it is to remember the keypad code to Funky Town.

[truthisfreedom]

17. We don't need it. We're going to produce plenty of oil on our own very soon.

Even though it's exactly the wrong thing to do for the environment, it will make the economy explode, and Obama will go down in history as the greatest president ever. Then we'll bake to death. No big whoop.

[Poll_Blind]

18. --->3/13/13 Poll_Blind calls it: "IF WE'RE LUCKY, HE CAN WORK IT INTO THE GRAND BARGAIN!"

Wouldn't that be extra special awesome?

"Well, you know, I mean...uh...I was going to veto that shit or whatever. But then the Republicans were like 'Man, if you throw that on the table along with Social Security and Medicare, we can maybe do a half a percent tax hike....for a year or two' and then I was like 'You mean all it would take is just that little ole thing? DONE!'"

PB

[moondust]

20. Plenty of pipeline spills in Canada.

A region suffering from major drought would seem to be a bad place to put a pipeline that could potentially contaminate the already scarce water supply.

[triguy46]

22. The KP that is in the ground is...

1/2 mile from where I sit. When they put it in the ground, the construction crew had maybe 30 guys. I'm sure there were more running trucks and other logistics. But not a major job creator for sure. Even fewer when its in the ground. I worked for the old Great Lakes Pipeline Company back in 60s as a summer job. The full time crew at the KC maintenence section had 6 full timers keeping up 4 lines from Iola, KS to the Iowa line, about 200 miles. Not a big employer.