Posted on 01/20/2012 10:34:53 AM PST by sheikdetailfeather
As House Republicans launched an assault on President Obama this morning for nixing a popular energy pipeline from Canada to Texas, the party renewed its pledge to move ahead with the project even if the president won’t get on board.
Emerging from the GOP’s issues conference in Baltimore this morning, House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton of Michigan told reporters that he was “deeply disappointed” that the president denied the project, adding that Republicans are considering an array of alternatives that would put the Keystone XL Pipeline back on track.
“As much as the president might want this issue to go away and come back maybe after the election, we’re going to do everything we can to keep it on the front burner, and keep this in front of the American people and do what we can to get this mission accomplished,” Upton said.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Great news. I hope they can get it done.
This is a no-brainer and would be an awesome pre-election rebuke to the current Occupy_White House trespasser.
That would of course be the one and the same Fred Upton we have to thank for the toxic curly light bulbs fiasco.
This is a very popular issue Obumbler hsa handed the GOP to take him on with - even many in labor are in favor of Keystone. What the pubbies need to do is grow some spines and resolve to pass NOTHING out of the House without language authorizing the pipeline's construction. No debt limit increases, extensions of the payroll tax reduction, nothing. Dare the clown in the White House and the rats in the Senate to shut down the government in support of the tree-hugger crowd over jobs and lower energy prices for Americans.
I'm not going to hold my breath.
But but but but it isn’t ‘shovel ready’!
Not to worry. Fred Upton will reveal any secret plans in the weekly democrat-rino meeting.
My comment is the same here as the other thread.
I know we have not built any new refineries in a long time.
That does not mean we cannot or should not.
I also know that there are plans to close several existing refineries, particularly in Kalifornia.
I know that fuel’s (and jobs!) are needed nationwide.
I know that a large percentage of our refineries are clustered in the Gulf region.
I know that a bad hurricane there can shut down too much of our refinery capacity.
I know that several short pipelines may be easier to build, and harder to stop, that one long one.
From what I know, instead of building a single very long pipeline all the way to the gulf we should branch it East and West, with refineries at each terminus.
Locally refined fuel is less expensive for consumers.
This is clearly illustrated here in Nevada.
Most of the state gets Kalifornia fuel, but NE Nevada gets fuel from Utah, which retails for .25¢ to .50¢ LESS per gallon than the Kalifornia blends.
So please explain why are we putting all of our eggs in a single basket with this project!
Inordinate gulf coast influence?
NIMBY opposition to new refineries elsewhere?
Just shortsighted stupidity?
Other?
re: refineries decentralized
I agree completely with you.
I sit here and wonder why a candidate or commentator has not had the common sense to either pose the question or explain why all the refineries have to be in one area.
You want everything at once and have not learned how to win through incrementalism.
They can cut into this pipeline at any time to divert to other locations.
More importantly, Bakken Shale Oil can be run into this pipeline as well, plus any other oil discovered in the future along its route.
The biggest obstacle to more refineries is the EPA. State governments would allow construction, but the feds stick their fingers into everything.
Here in Pennsylvania, some locals claimed their water wells were contaminated by hydraulic fracturing. The drilling company provided water for everyone as tests were performed on their water and the natural gas wells. Tests were conducted by the drilling company, by the state of Pennsylvania and by independent organizations. Nobody could find a link and the well water was deemed safe.
So the drilling company ceased providing the potable water to the residents.
Now the EPA shows up, starts supplying water to the residents (on our dime) and is conducting their own investigation.
States can take care of themselves. These are not federal issues. Even the pipeline only needed federal approval to cross the border from Canada into the US......after that, each state can make their own decisions using their own departments of environmental protection.
The NIMBY’s and Obammy keep muttering about some particular “Aquifer” as their excuse du-jour.
As I recall that aquifer is NOT right where the line would cross the border, but a fair way south.
So, branch it above that point, go south with it later.
But get the oil INTO the U.S. rather than China!
Having worked for DOE and with the EPA on many occasions, This is a great move.How are they (GOV) are going to disapprove a pipeline that has been estblished for YEARS and inspected MONTHLY by DOE and audited by EPA and probably IG yearly. They probably have a GOV inspector on all the pumping stations fulltime. All permits have been approved at the state and Federal level for years. All they (contractors) have to worry about is spec changes that WILL require GOV approvals,IF done right, this will stand all lawsuits all the way to the Supremes, Gotta love it
“The NIMBY’s and Obammy keep muttering about some particular “Aquifer” as their excuse du-jour.
As I recall that aquifer is NOT right where the line would cross the border, but a fair way south.
So, branch it above that point, go south with it later.
But get the oil INTO the U.S. rather than China!”
Its not about the aquifer !!
The aquifer is just a convienient excuse
It is all about the current “Narcissistt in chief” or “pathological narcissist as president” who lets ideology overun common logic. “He” has an idea that he belives will work (shut down all the coal plants, and replace with renewable solar/wind generation). Then the American public will have to increase renewable energy sources since we will need power in order to return to manufacturing productivity.
His intent is to deny the American consumer cheap power.
That is why he wants oil in the US to go to $8.oo per gallon , and if we shut down all the coal-fired electrical generators, the use and cost of petroleum products will shoot up.
He wants us to become a “Bananna Republic”, and thus less of a Colonial policeman of the world .
Blatently stated , it is ideology over logic.
The fact that the Chinese already beat us to the Brazilian oil production fields just adds fuel to why the Keystone Project is so important to our own economic well-being.
Under the “Narrcicist in Chief”, the price of petrolium has already doubled !
Yeah the idea he was Talking about was great,the Canadiens build the Pipiline from Montana to the Gulf of Mexico to carry the Baaken Oil to the Gulf,use the existing material to build to the Canadien Border,then at that time apply to just Connect the Line to Canada. Obama Cant stop this Because the Pipeline does Not cross the Border,the Line will be Completely Built and Obumbo cant stop it!
Building new refineries in the present fascist climate is about as likely as building new nuclear plants. Don't hold your breath waiting.
It is the same lies fabricated about hydraulic fracturing.....that water tables 4000 feet above the fracturing zone can be affected it pure insanity.....but liberals lie all the time to advance their agenda.
I understand what you are saying, but now that both the Bakken & Canadian oil are ramping up, it would seem reasonable for the oil companies to be pushing for a refinery rather than a pipeline.
Refineries need two things:
1. A pipeline network to bring crude oil to them.
2. A separate pipeline network to distribute finished products to the market.
The Gulf Coast refineries already possess the latter. A hypothetical refinery in Montana possesses neither.
Moreover, the economics of refining dictate that a refinery be run as close as possible to 100% of capacity. Shipping the 800,000 bpd from Alberta to the Gulf Coast will immediately displace 800,000 bpd of other imported oil -- chiefly from the likes of Venezuela -- improvng our independence from foreign sources.
By the way, it is not just Gulf Coast refineries that would benefit from the project. There is already a leg of the Keystone pipeline in place that delivers to refineries in the Midwest (St. Louis/Wood River complex).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.