"President Obama said Tuesday that he will decide whether to approve or deny a permit for a controversial 1,700-mile Canadian oil pipeline, rather than delegating the decision to the State Department.
The proposal by the firm TransCanada to ship crude extracted from a region in Alberta called the 'oil sands' to Gulf Coast refineries has become a charged political issue for the White House. Labor unions and business groups argue that it would create thousands of jobs in the midst of an economic downturn. Environmentalists — who plan to ring the White House in a protest on Sunday — say the extraction of the oil will accelerate global warming and the pipeline itself could spill, polluting waterways and causing severe environmental harm.
In an interview with the Omaha television station KETV, the president said he would weigh the Keystone XL pipeline’s potential economic benefits against its possible environmental consequences. The Nebraska legislature convened Tuesday in a special session, called by Gov. Dave Heineman (R), to consider whether it should adopt any measures that would block the pipeline."
Juliet Eilperin reports for the Washington Post November 1, 2011.
SEE ALSO:
"TransCanada Profit Rises on Pipeline Returns, Power Generation" (Bloomberg)
"TransCanada CEO Paints Grim Outcome If Keystone Delayed" (Financial Post)
"President Obama Implies He Will Rule On Keystone XL Pipeline" (Los Angeles Times)
"Obama: Keystone XL Pipeline Decision Will Be Made With Health, Economic Factors Taken Into Account" (Reuters)
"Obama: I'll Make the Call On Keystone XL Project" (Politico)
"State Department Defends Contractor Chosen for Pipeline Study" (New York Times)
"Press Secretary Tries To Walk Back Obama's Responsibility For Keystone XL Decision" (Think Progress Green)
"Obama Tells Pipeline Protesters No Decision Made Yet on Keystone XL" (Canadian Press)
"This Week's Episode of the Keystone XL Soap Opera" (350.org/Jamie Henn via HuffPo)
"Nebraska Lawmakers Move to Reroute TransCanada’s Keystone XL Oil Pipeline" (Bloomberg)
"Special Session for XL Pipeline begins in Lincoln" (KHAS-TV)
"TransCanada To Nebraska: Altering Keystone XL Pipeline Route Would Be Unconstitutional" (Huffington Post/Tom Zeller Jr.)
"Nebraska Lawmaker Wants State To Have a Say on Keystone" (Reuters)
"EPA Remains Engaged in Keystone XL Pipeline Talks, Jackson Says" (Bloomberg)
"EPA on Cusp of Keystone Pipeline Comments" (E2 Wire/The Hill)
"Lisa Jackson: Keystone Pipeline Conversation Is 'Awesome'" (Politico)
"EPA Says To Comment Soon On Keystone XL Pipeline" (Reuters)
Advertisement 
