TransCanada considers new plans: Keystone pipeline may be built in stages in U.S. first

Calgary Herald ^ | January 20, 2012 | Rebecca Penty

[epithermal]

TransCanada Corp. is considering building U.S. portions of its Keystone XL pipeline and later seeking approval of an Alberta link to circumvent the Obama administration's rejection of the $7-billion project.

There is no requirement for a presidential permit to lay pipe anywhere in the United States, provided the line doesn't extend across the border into Canada.

On the table is a segment between the oversupplied oil storage hub of Cushing, Okla., and Gulf Coast refining centres in Texas, as well as a longer line from Montana to the Gulf Coast, executives said Thursday.

"I think that clearly, with yesterday's decision, we are now open to amending or changing our plans to building this in segments," TransCanada chief executive Russ Girling told an investor conference in Whistler, B.C. "As we've said before, that's dependent on the interest of our shippers in doing that."

Building an Oklahoma-to-Texas section alone would cost TransCanada $2 billion, said Girling, who told investors the company has already spent $1.9 billion on the Keystone XL project.

[VF-51vnv]

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

[jdsteel]

Obama will just invent a new power and stop it anyway. He will "deem" it all a part of a larger project and then act as if the entire project were being done all at once.

I have a different take; I think Obama will ignore this. His enviro-weenie friends won't blame him and he will take credit for any increase in jobs or the economy that will result. Win-Win for him.

[DoughtyOne]

You know folks, I need to apologize to each of you.

I’ve been calling Obama a nine year old child. I was wrong.

He’s a preschooler.

This guy has infantile logic.

It’s great to see folks going ahead with plans to do an end run on this jerk’s edicts.

Do we want that oil coming to the U. S. or going to China? Duh!

Mr. President, F U!

[DoughtyOne]

We have desired to reduce our dependence on the Middle-East oil supplying states.

It has been nearly 40 years since we’ve wanted to. Now along comes a significant supply of oil with a good neighbor to the north, and this president can’t see any reason why we should buy it.

This guy is an absolute moron. He’ll do anything to destroy our nation. He’ll do anything to make car drivers as miserable as he can make them.

He should never have been voted in. He must be voted out in 2012.

Please folks, give me someone I can vote for.

[Praxeologue]

What I don’t understand is why Canada needs a pipeline for crude to the gulf for refining. For the same money, Canada could build its’ own set of refineries, become a real player, and sell the fuel anywhere.

There is a refinery capacity glut, particularly among refineries that refine the type of heavy crude produced from the Alberta oil sands. Those refineries are located on the Gulf Coast, their feedstock being largely Venezuelan heavy crude.

That said, Obama's obstructionism certainly strengthens the case for a Canadian refinery. I don't know how far an Alberta refinery is from being feasible.

A business is not going to wager that Obama will lose the election, so Trans Canada would only start construction on those segments that are feasible on their own.

[Political Junkie Too]

That's interesting.

If Obama ignores it, will the MSM ignore Obama ignoring it, or will they force him to address it?

The Republican candidates can talk about it and make Obama look like the side-liner that he is.

Congressional Republicans keep pulling Obama into their business, giving him the opportunity to look Presidential. If Obama ignores it, he can be made to appear weak and indecisive. Move the debate back to the House and the Senate with another bill.

-PJ

[Boogieman]

Haha! Build the pipelines up to a storage facility on the border, then load up tanker trucks to drive 100 ft across the boarder and unload them in a pumping facility connected to the rest of the pipeline. High-tech bucket brigade to foil the Obummer!

[Boogieman]

I’m sure if they build a refinery, they’d be able to find plenty of skilled labor willing to relocate. People do a lot crazier thing for a job nowadays than move to Canada.

[Bikkuri]

[jdsteel]

Of course, this is all my opinion, but keeping in mind the “slobbering love affair” that the media has with Barry, yes, they will ignore him ignoring it. If the Republicans bring up the subject he can tout how he stopped it due to his environmental concerns and how it was THEIR fault for forcing him to make a decision so quickly (don’t confuse this with facts or logic). This way, he keeps getting green-weenie money, the unions aren’t as upset with him (they will get some of those jobs) and he’ll take credit for the good stuff and blame Republicans for any bad stuff. In other words, Standard Operating Procedure!

[CynicalBear]

Kitty is NOT too tired to donate, she’s tired of carrying the load while others enjoy but don’t help. More should go monthly so she’s not so overworked. The poor thing needs help. Those that don’t donate will see visions in their dreams of that poor overworked kitty.

[TheOldLady]

Thank you for the ad copy! Very nice.

[CynicalBear]

Feel free to use it un-attributed if you want.

[TheOldLady]

Thank you, that's very kind. You do have a way with words.