A Keystone XL oil pipeline decision is coming soon from the Obama White House.
As previously reported by The Inquisitr , the US State department has decided that the Keystone XL pipeline will not cause many environmental problems. Other options for importing the oil from Canada have been judged to actually be more harmful to the environment.
This is important because a 2004 George W. Bush executive order gives the decision-making power on certain energy-related projects that cross international borders to the secretary of state.
If any of the eight consulting agencies disagree, the Keystone XL pipeline decision would be bumped up to the president. So, technically, while President Obama won’t be making the decision, President Obama will likely see some sort of political fallout no matter the outcome.
President Obama has been playing a balancing act between environmental groups that dislike the Keystone XL oil pipeline and the unions which favor Keystone because of the union jobs, and union steel, which would be required to build the 875 mile pipeline.
Guests who attended President Obama’s recent Bay Area fundraising swing are saying President Obama will make a decision on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline sooner rather than later. A key point in making up President Obama’s mind are the polls which show over 66 percent of Americans support building the Keystone XL oil pipeline .
Meanwhile, the 65 year old Exxon Mobil Pegasus pipeline suffered a “major leak” in a suburb of Little Rock, Arkansas, spilling thousands of gallons of oil mixed with water. Some experts say it’s crazy to think the Keystone XL oil pipeline would never suffer a similar accident.
Do you think Obama should okay the Keystone XL oil pipeline?