Obama to make Keystone decision in next couple months
Updated 3:33 p.m. ET, 2/24/2014
(CNN) - President Barack Obama will decide whether to go forward with the Keystone XL pipeline in the next couple months, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin said on Monday.
"I did ask the President when we could anticipate a decision on the Keystone pipeline. I asked him if he could use his executive order power to do that, but finally he did come back and say that he anticipates an answer one way or the other in a couple of months," Fallin told reporters at a news conference after a meeting between governors and the President at the White House.
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The proposed TransCanada pipeline that would transport oil from Canada to the Gulf Coast would run through Oklahoma.
Fallin, a Republican, supports approval and indicated that’s why she brought the issue up at the meeting.
Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie, a Democrat, said Obama told the governors that "some people will be happy, some people will be sad" on the Keystone decision, but didn't tip his hand either way.
The Obama administration's pending decision on Keystone comes after a State Department environmental report indicated that the project won't have a big impact on carbon emissions that cause climate change.
White House spokesman Jay Carney would not comment on the President's timeline for making a decision, referring questions to the State Department.
"I don't have any insight into that decision or its effect," Carney told reporters when asked about Fallin's comments.
Many Republicans and pipeline supporters said the report, released last month, means Obama should approve Keystone while environmentalists decried the findings.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal also said he also asked Obama about the pipeline at the White House meeting but was skeptical that he would take action on the issue.
"In the State of the Union, the President talked about using his pen and also he said in subsequent speeches he talked about using his phone to take executive actions and to bypass Congress," he told reporters after the meeting.
"And certainly I made a few suggestions today, and I've got additional suggestions on how he could do that if he were serious about growing the economy. The Keystone pipeline is certainly one."
Texas Gov. Rick Perry was more confident Obama would approve the pipeline.
"Just write it down. He's going to approve it," Perry said at a news conference with Republican governors. "There is no defending not opening the XL pipeline. …The President is going to do this. I don't know why he's going to wait two or three months."
Supporters say the Keystone project would help further reduce U.S. dependence on Mideast oil, and create jobs. Environmentalists contend it could lead to more spills.
The project also faces legal challenges.
Governors were in Washington over the weekend for the National Governors Association winter meeting.
CNN's Dana Davidsen contributed to this report.
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@@much thunder...little rain
gutless....study on the enviroment is in ...jobs are waiting....but obama needs to ck with his donors...what a pathedic mess were in ...
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If you want to create jobs , infrastructure , high speed rail , expand electric corridor , affordable electric transportation .
Do you know how much water is wasted pulling tar sands oil out of the ground ?
either way people will not be happy. If he does ok it I want to see the trolls eat their words when it does not create all these jobs they keep saying it will. Counting down is a jerk. let's see how many jobs get created.
salty dog
Fair, different kind of oil I believe, the oil from Canada is not ours, we only get the risks involved, Koch brothers get the money, one report said 35 permanent jobs.
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exactly what risk are you taking? none. me neither. the states that the pipeline passes through want it. who are we to tell them no? right, 35 jobs. so a pipeline that stretches for thousands of miles and ends at ports or refineries will produce fewer jobs and one quater of a walmart store? what leftist loon came up with that number?
@Sniffit: "Of course CNN forgets any mention of the court ruling that just struck down the Nebraska Governor's approval of the Keystone Pipeline's route because it essentially tried to give eminent domain powers to Trans-Canada. Yes, that's right...they want it so bad, they're willing to try to unlawfully give a foreign corporation the power to take citizens' land."
Pretty laughable how the "My rights are constantly being threatened by the dictator Obama" crowd and their mouthpiece (Fox) are silent about this.
Oh, my bad: If a multi-national corporation wants to trample the rights of some lowly Nebraskan landowners, that's OK. You know, mo' money, mo' rights, and all.
Just, would you let your neighbors run their sewage line through your backyard because its more convenient for them, mind you, there is no visible benefit for you? Of course not, that's why the Koch brothers pushed to have a second study done, the first one was not influenced by their money, so they demanded another one and guess what, no risk. Total BS, period.
" I said a couple years ago Obama would fold like a cheap suit on this... and he will."
Riiiiight. Obama says "I'm not going to approve it until it proves to be safe, environmentally and to the public, etc. etc. etc." and then forces it to go through the process of determining whether it meets all the regulatory hurdles and requirements. The whole time you scream like he's doing something he shouldn't. Then, when the project finally meets its regulatory burdens and he signs off on it, you want to claim he "folded"? Sorry, that's just ridiculous. He's already not folded by forcing it to jump through the hoops the law and good sense require. If it finally makes it through all the hoops and he approves it, that's not "folding."
-countingdown
salty dog
Pathetic is trying to convince people Canada selling oil to China reduces our dependency, how is that. This is driven by the Koch brothers money, pure and simple. We take all the risks, Koch brothers get all the money, perfect. Big oil has successfully lobbied to limit its liability in spills, and they don't give a a rats azz how badly it damages our watershed, this is very bad idea. Safety is not job one, I don't care what Joe Parker says, look at their record, does safety seem like job one? Money is job one, the less spent on safety the more goes into their pockets. Horrible for us to allow this, what's in it for us, nothing, that's why their lying about reducing our energy dependence, they can't explain how it does, because it doesn't. They said by doing Canada a favor, it may benefit us down the road, really, i sincerely doubt that.
And the Koch brothers will be sure to use the money to further corrupt our system. Very bad idea, we take the risk, they reap the reward, same old gop BS
OK! Prove it!
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No, you stuck your foot in it, the burden of proving him wrong is up to you. A word of advice before you start: have actual proof that does not some from " The Daily Caller" or some other website that is only interested in propaganda to make your case.
@countingdown: "And the Koch brothers will be sure to use the money to further corrupt our system. Very bad idea, we take the risk, they reap the reward, same old gop BS
OK! Prove it!"
The Koch brothers hold up to 2 million acres in Alberta and have spent upwards of $50 million on Congress and think tanks that heavily push for the pipeline.
Why? Because if the pipeline goes through, they stand to make upward to $100 billion if it's built.
And here's a reminder: The Koch boys' father made his fortune building the energy infrastructure for Stalin. You really think they wouldn't sell our country down the river for cash? Stop being naive!
Counting,,explain how it reduces our oil dependence? If you don't think the Koch brothers are corrupting our system, I'm not going to go there, only an idiot thinks otherwise. Why did they spend over 100 million in our last election? Just because, wake up, they have nothing for you, its just that simple.
There you go, since when did the states profess their desire for this, all your arguments are based on lies, you a sad little man.
-What could go wrong?
countingdown
The Real Tom Paine
Who makes the equipment you sell? What about the people who build the equipment that would be installed? Do their jobs not mean anything? What about your own job? We have such few jobs available now that the 1000 long term jobs (low estimate) should be a welcomed number! Ever heard the term trickle down. It works!
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Or course it works. But the leftists believe more in the take and spread model. It works out for their political supporters. No work is involved, just governmental theft.
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The simple fact of the oil industry is that they are obcessed with efficiency. They can now get teh job done with far fewer people than before because the technology enables them to do that. they don't even need to train people to the same degree as before, once again because of the technology used to monitor, test and maintain the pipelines and the refineries. This is not a political issue, its the industry taking advantage of the best techology available to reduce cost in the long run. The trickle-down model you describe just does not work in this instance, or would you prefer us to go back to more labor intensive methods, and drive production costs up? Who would buy the oil, based upon that theory? Try to stop looking at this like a political blogger and more like someone who actually wants to learn something.
My comments are based on the spill in my area,miles of the Kalamazoo river, dead, five years later. If I thought it was a good thing despite the money the Koch's will get, I'd be for it. After seeing first hand the absolute destruction of that rivet i would not be so adamant about it
-just asking
salty dog
Fair, different kind of oil I believe, the oil from Canada is not ours, we only get the risks involved, Koch brothers get the money, one report said 35 permanent jobs.
-–
exactly what risk are you taking? none. me neither. the states that the pipeline passes through want it. who are we to tell them no? right, 35 jobs. so a pipeline that stretches for thousands of miles and ends at ports or refineries will produce fewer jobs and one quater of a walmart store? what leftist loon came up with that number?
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Since I doubt you actually know the average number of people working at a typical pumping station, I would say this is someone basing their answer on outdated assumptions and wishful thinking. It only takes a handful of people to effectively maintain a stretch of pipeline 50+ miles long. I deal with this every day, so I know what I am talking about. Try to learn the facts before shooting your mouth off.
salty dog
Counting,,explain how it reduces our oil dependence? If you don't think the Koch brothers are corrupting our system, I'm not going to go there, only an idiot thinks otherwise. Why did they spend over 100 million in our last election? Just because, wake up, they have nothing for you, its just that simple.
_________________
Is this all you people can do, call other idiots when they don't agree with you??? Seriously you need to get a life and get out more, you will be much happier, walk away from the computer once in a while!!!
The Keystone pipe line should not be approved. The oil is very dirty, the chance of spills in environmentally sensitive areas is very unwise. The estimates on how many jobs it will provide are extremely exaggerated. The Canadian people have been fighting this oil company even harder than the Americans because they feel it is dirty oil. The ONLY people who will really benefit from this is the oil company, the producers of the pipe, and the stock owners. It will have little to no effect on the price of oil, it will have a negative effect on air quality, and the excuse that the Canadians are going to find "some way" to get this oil out of the ground and to market, so why not the Keystone? This Is an extremely lame reason to do it. The President needs to say NO!!!!
Sniffit
And BTW, Judge Stephanie Stacy was appointed by Governor Hieneman himself, so no, Teatrolls don't get to rant about "liberal activist judges" on this one. The Gov and the state legislature screwed the pooch trying to force it all through on their own unlawful terms and it will now cause more delays rather than speeding up the process as they intended.
If you have absolute proof of wrong doing then present it to congress otherwise the courts will settle the issue and your opinions don't matter! Your hatred of the tea party or the GOP is irrelevant!
salty dog
Just, would you let your neighbors run their sewage line through your backyard because its more convenient for them, mind you, there is no visible benefit for you? Of course not, that's why the Koch brothers pushed to have a second study done, the first one was not influenced by their money, so they demanded another one and guess what, no risk. Total BS, period.
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it is not my backyard and it isn't yours either. and it is not a sewerage line. so i suppose you want to shut down the hundreds of thousands of miles of pipelines that already criss cross this country? if not why not? we are not reading about all those pipelines causing irreparable damage to anything. this is all just hysterical hype from the far left environmental azealots of the demorcat party.
and if there ever comes a time when that oil may be needed in this country, well then we will be well positioned to use it now won't we? or would you rather tell people in the north east to freeze to death in the winter?
Fair is Fair
If the pipeline will reduce U.S. dependency on foreign oil, then why is the pipeline going to new ports in Texas that have been built to accommodate the latest and biggest supertankers. These supertankers are too big to fit through the Panama Canal. This oil is heading for Europe where it can be sold at a higher price than it could in the U.S. because of added transportation costs.
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The oil is going to Texas because that's where the refineries are.
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Yeah, we know that, Fair. What's your point? Why build the new facilities in the Gulf, and not along the Pacific coast somewhere. It's simple. They're trying to dramatically cut the cost of transporting the product to Europe.
countingdown
Sniffit "There will be no explosion of jobs from Keystone,"
In fact, it will kill a ton of jobs in the trucking and shipping industry, which has had to grow and expand in order to meet demand for and transport the growing domestic oil supply and production under Obama.
How many trucking / shipping jobs will be gained from the refining industry?
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We don't transport crude in trucks, and the Longshoreman have not seen a increase in jobs proporational to the increase in petroleum exports we have been enjoying. Once again, due to automation, not a lot of jobs created. Its all about efficiency to the oil business, and they are making money hand over fist because of it. The won't create jobs just for the hell of it: they have to see a compelling need, and re-exporting oil from Canada won't put a dime in the average worker's pockets.
A number of lawsuits have to be cleared in courts, before the Koch Brothers can start cashing in on their $100 billion wind fall from the tar sands.
salty dog
Counting,,explain how it reduces our oil dependence? If you don't think the Koch brothers are corrupting our system, I'm not going to go there, only an idiot thinks otherwise. Why did they spend over 100 million in our last election? Just because, wake up, they have nothing for you, its just that simple.
The burden of proof is on you! You are spouting crap as truth! I want to know facts!
@The Real Tom Paine: "Once again, due to automation, not a lot of jobs created. Its all about efficiency to the oil business, and they are making money hand over fist because of it."
All the more reason to immediately end the multi-billion-dollar subsidy us taxpayers give to the oil industry: They don't need it and that money could be put towards repairing the social safety net.
Do right wingnuts prefer being referred to as brain dead or idiots? They seem incapable of finding facts and merely repeat Hannity talking points. I think they are brain dead, but with some reading, they can work their way up to be idiots.
Right wingnuts do not accept truth, as it makes them look bad.
One other thing...in TWENTY years many of you reading this are going to hope we had more control on all the fracking being done all over the United States, The concrete sleeves containing all of that polluted water used to free the gas and oil will begin to crack. This will lead to a significant rise in contaminated water and areas in which crops will begin to die. Unfortunately there will be nothing we can do, if and when this occurs. I am hoping that I am incorrect, but I think there is a very high probability of it occurring. We will have to just wait and see......