Persuasive Essay On Crude Oil Pipeline

The United States has six oil-producing states that do not have any refineries: Florida, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, South Dakota, and Virginia.

Florida does not have any crude oil refineries and relies on petroleum products delivered by tanker and barge to Florida marine terminals, primarily at the ports of Jacksonville, Miami, Port Canaveral, Port Manatee, and Port Everglades. Petroleum product imports, including motor gasoline and motor gasoline blending components, residual fuel oil, jet fuel, and asphalt, arrive in Florida from around the world. Ethanol is also imported, mainly from Brazil. (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2016)

Although many geologists believe that there are potential oil reserves in the federal waters in the

“A network of petroleum product pipelines connects Nebraska markets to refining centers in nearby states. Crude oil moves via pipeline through southern Nebraska on its way from Wyoming to refineries in the Midwest.” (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2016) There has been much debate regarding a proposed crude oil pipeline that would be routed through the Sand Hills of north-central and northwestern Nebraska, known as the Keystone XL pipeline. This pipeline would run from Canada to Texas, but has been a major source of debate between those in favor of this new source of petroleum and environmentalist that think the pipeline would be detrimental to the local environment. President Obama has struck down the pipeline, but it leaves the door open for the next president to decide whether to continue with the pipeline as planned or stick to President Obama’s rejection. (Cama, 2015) One reason that there is such environmental concern is that the Sand Hills region “sits on top of the Ogallala Aquifer. The Ogallala, a vast, shallow aquifer that extends beneath parts of eight states, provides groundwater crucial for agriculture in the semiarid Plains states, particularly Nebraska, and is considered environmentally sensitive.” (US Department of Agriculture, Gollehon, & Winston, 2013) The environmental impact is important for the region’s water supply, however the pipeline would also supply not

New York is one of the largest consumers of petroleum products, which are used mainly for transportation and home heating. New York was an important center for oil production and refining in the 19th century, supporting the state's industrial regions around New York City and along the Erie Canal from as many as 56 refineries. By the end of the 20th century, all the refineries were closed. (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority,