My understanding is that the oil extracted from the Canadian tar sands will be refined in Texas. Then it will be put on ships and sent off to other countries. My understanding is that the US would not be end consumers.
One issue with the Keystone XL pipeline is that it puts the burden of cleanup, when it is eventually discontinued, on the land owner…not the oil industry. This is a potential economic nightmare for the land owners. And it’s being done by imminent domain… farmers aren’t being asked about the pipeline crossing their land. Think about how expensive it is to clean up former gas station sites… Or for anyone who’s ever had an oil furnace – and had to replace the oil tank – it’s an expensive, toxic process to clean up.
Currently the US is net exporting oil. Why do we need to transport oil obtained in Canada, across the US, to be shipped overseas?
Finally – it is not at all clear to me that this doesn’t involve some kind of government subsidy or tax break. I’d rather see our tax dollars go elsewhere.
These are the reasons I’m cynical about the Keystone XL project.
