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!