ipl-logo

Pros And Cons Of The Keystone Pipeline

435 Words2 Pages

One of the most controversial projects for the United States to decide on was whether or not to build the Keystone pipeline. This topic forces the government to decide if economic development is worth the cost of endangering the environment. Though this pipeline will allow the United States to rely less on foreign oil, the pipeline’s lasting effects prove to be a factor that cannot be easily overlooked. The Keystone pipeline should not be built because it endangers the environment and has the ability to create catastrophic damages through pollution and habitat desecration. Pollution is a major factor that has to be considered when referring to the Keystone pipeline. To extract and produce the oil from the sands, carbon is released into the air 17% more than that of conventional oil. The increasing carbon emissions in the air can speed up the changing climate, and can lead to severe health risks. Pollution is a result of extracting this alternative oil, but …show more content…

The toxic chemicals released from extraction were poisoning clean water sources. This lead to increasing cases of cancer, hyperthyroidism, lupus, and renal failure in people located in areas near the present pipeline. These effects clearly show the vast hazard this oil presents for the environment and society. In conclusion, as stated and proven throughout this essay, the Keystone pipeline creates many environmental issues. The Keystone pipeline should not be built because it endangers the environment and has the ability to create catastrophic damages through pollution and habitat desecration. Though many see benefits to the addition of a national pipeline, the effects and dangers must outweigh any slight economic gain. A small gain in government currency should never endanger the future loss of an environment, which is something than can cannot be

Show More
Related
628 Words | 3 Pages

Controversy Surrounding the Keystone XL Pipeline To build or not to build, this choice will impact the relationship between the US and Canada and determine the level of dependence the US will have on countries that are not so friendly. “TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL Pipeline would transport oil sands crude from Canada and shale oil produced in North Dakota and Montana to a market hub in Nebraska for delivery to Gulf Coast refineries. The pipeline would consist of 875 miles of 36-inch pipe with the capacity to transport 830,000 barrels per day” (Parfomak, Pirog, Luther and Vann 4). The construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline would strengthen the United States economy, provide energy security and have minimal environmental impact. “The Keystone XL project would create $1.1 trillion in private capital investment at no

Read More
1446 Words | 6 Pages

For the majority of history, in the United States, crude oil has been the primary source of fuel and energy. Whether it is burning the oil or using it for gas, the product has been used at an excess amount. Even with great success in the search for a new source of energy, America will always be dependent on oil. Upon this realization, the Keystone XL Pipeline was started in 2010. Advancing from southern Canada, through multiple depots in the United States, to its final completion in the southern United States, the pipeline was a lengthy project.

Read More
307 Words | 2 Pages

The pipeline travels too close to our water supplies. Pipelines are known to create spills, and even the smallest spill could contaminate our water. Close to Ten thousand of my people could be affected if the pipeline is built near our reservation. Not only could the pipeline contaminate our water, but it also travels through a sacred burial

Read More
203 Words | 1 Pages

The Dakota Access Pipeline, has sparked quite the controversy. The oil pipeline would stretch over four states, and has many positive and negative possible effects. Many can debate whether or not this pipeline is ethically correct, but no one can debate the few positive economic effects on the nation. One such effect, “1,500 jobs total per year in Iowa for the course of construction.” (Sammon)

Read More
722 Words | 3 Pages

Further, drilling for oil is not worth the massive tradeoffs. Therefore, the United States should not drill for oil in Alaska because it is not worth it, it does not solve our oil problems and it destroys the environment. To begin, The United States should not drill for oil in Alaska because it will destroy the environment. I

Read More
164 Words | 1 Pages

The environment is suffering days after days, there will a point where the green house won’t take it anymore and the earth will meltdown. The oil refineries are the main contributors to this issue, since they are the ones who produce the

Read More
2089 Words | 9 Pages

The environmental argument is coming from a clash over the fact they are basically stripping the canadian boreal forest, the path of the pipeline extends across major aquifers, and pipelines tend to leak and destroy surrounding environments. In addition ccording to The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions State, “epartment’s draft SEIS found that oil from the Canadian oil sands is 17 percent more carbon-intensive than the average oil consumed in the United States... It is estimated that the U.S. greenhouse gas footprint would increase by 3 million to 21 million metric tons per year, or around 0.04 percent to 0.3 percent of the 2010 levels, if Keystone is built. Fortunately on November 6, 2015, President Barack Obama’s administration rejected the Keystone Pipeline XL after 7 years of dispute. As mentioned in the Wall Street Journal, Obama stated “the project would not have lowered gas prices, improved energy security or made a meaningful long-term contribution to the economy

Read More
1313 Words | 6 Pages

Groundwater contamination has been documented at 13 of North Carolina’s coal-fired power plants (“Energy-Related”). Even after wildlife advocates exposed the damage to aquatic habitats from the Dan River ash spill, Duke Energy and politicians only contemplated the state of human life rather than biological life. Although no human deaths resulted from the Dan River spill, increased

Read More
425 Words | 2 Pages

I believe that the Dakota pipeline should not be built. This controversial issue is much more than just about a pipeline being built to transport oil. It contains environmental, social, political, and cultural conflicts. I am well aware of the economic growth this pipeline can supposedly build. It can creat up to 12,000 construction jobs, make America less depend on the Middle Eastern countries, and could bring $156 million in sales and income taxes to state and local governments.

Read More
315 Words | 2 Pages

“ A Black Snake will come from the North, Everything it touches it will slowly kill, It will poison every river.” - Sioux Prophecy. The Dakota Access Pipeline can create more jobs and will stop the United States from buying foreign oil. These are good value to push this forward but the list of Pros is short then the list of Cons.

Read More
1180 Words | 5 Pages

Supporters of the pipeline claim that the construct meets all of the safety regulations, thus there is no need to worry about the water supply. In an issue of the Oil Spill Intelligence Report, pipelines are described as “the safest, most efficient, and cost effective way to move oil to the market.” The president of the North Dakota Petroleum Council said products reach their destination virtually all of the time and the pipe lays 90 feet under the river, so “it’s not going to leak right into the river”. The pipe also has detection equipment and shutoff valves on each side of the pipeline. The source also includes arguments voice by the opposition of the pipeline including: that the Tribe was never consulted for the project and that the proposed route of the pipeline would desecrate sacred tribal lands.

Read More
492 Words | 2 Pages

Both sides of this project have different justifiable reasons. In this essay, I will explain this situation is ethical or unethical and why. People who want this project think that this pipeline is the best way to move the oil. They think it is very safe, and an environment-friendly way to carry oil to other states. They think if they don’t move this oil it will be bad for people because they think this oil can infiltrate to water and that will affect

Read More
432 Words | 2 Pages

Canada is a hot topic for environmental issues, with it’s natural resources, forests, and the surrounding oceans. A very controversial issue found in Canada, has to do with the Oilsands, which is where an extremely high-carbon process used to extract oilsands deposits, which can be found in Northern Alberta. As stated from Environment Canada, it has been found that because of Oilsand (the oil industry, not just oilsand extracting) and is the largest source releasing greenhouse gases, which is responsible for some of the climate change. They use Oilsand Pipelines to move the extractions and there has been debate about whether or not they are necessary to keep building and using due to climate change, oil spills, and pipeline leaks. President

Read More
622 Words | 3 Pages

Natural Resources minister is under fire from Liberal minister for harmful comments about the approval of the Kinder Morgan pipeline. He apologized for the comments he made about pipeline protests that some people mis-interpret his speech as a threat of their communities. Carr made comments about the possible use of defence forces during future protests to put their safety over pipeline projects approved by Ottawa. The controversy was started when Carr told the crowd "If people choose for their own reasons not to be peaceful, then the government of Canada, through its defence forces, through its police forces, will ensure that people will be kept safe"(Lazzarino). Some First Nations made a promised to protest over the Liberal government controversial

Read More
943 Words | 4 Pages

Researchers have “requested data from Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and Texas, all states heavily involved in the recent surge of oil and gas drilling, about complaints related to hydraulic fracking for oil and gas” for their research on fracking (Dechert).   The research collected was shocking, over 2,000 complaints in Texas alone and several cases on well water contamination within the states mentioned in Decherd’s article. People need to be alerted about how real fracking is and the damages it is doing. These complaints and cases should be a wakeup call to the world and say that we should put it to a

Read More

More about Pros And Cons Of The Keystone Pipeline

Open Document