Push the Keystone XL Pipeline

Republicans in Congress are stalwart in their push for President Obama to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline, a pipeline originating in Alberta, Canada to transport oil to Gulf Coast refineries. They have tried numerous times to tie the approval of the pipeline to various bills in Congress, but have thus far failed at this end-run game, or convinced the administration that the pros in support of the pipeline outweigh the cons. In truth, the pros in conjunction with the pipeline seem to be overall beneficial to the country. Estimates show there will be thousands of temporary construction jobs added over the next two years, both directly in constructing the pipeline and indirectly through the various steel mills and other manufacturing sectors needed in constructing the pipeline. Though these estimates vary, I do not think it’s relevant for those opposed to the pipeline to diminish the importance of adding temporary jobs in a recessed economy. I do, however, take exception with the many overstated estimates of permanent jobs that will be created from those in the media and Congress. Once the pipeline is finished, most estimates put the number of permanent jobs from as low as 20, to as many as 200. That’s not going to put a great dent in the unemployment numbers. The number of temporary jobs estimated range anywhere from about 4,000 to 20,000. 20,000 people back to work, at least temporarily, is rather significant. And when we have record-high unemployment, especially when employment in construction and home-building is so slow, I can’t disregard these numbers as ineffectual.

All of this skips around what is most important here, however: the U.S. consumes too much oil, and adding one more transnational pipeline does nothing to reduce the U.S.’s oil dependence both domestically and abroad. As a nation, the U.S. produces fewer than 5% of the total petroleum mined per year, yet we consume nearly 25% of the world’s oil. That’s a staggering number, but the numbers are improving. We are for the first time since the 70’s exporting more oil than we import, and due to increased fuel-efficiency standards put in place by the Obama administration, we are consuming less oil. Also, I have to think that as alternative fuel sources become more abundant and less costly our dependence on this finite resource will diminish. Finite here is the key word.

Having one more pipeline will not address our countries exorbitant necessity for oil and other natural resources. It is apparent that America overuses, yet with each new pipeline dug and well mined we come no closer to solving ours or our planet’s peril in depleting the natural resources that history has so generously provided. Perhaps instead of scarring the planet, and more importantly our nation, with yet another oil pipeline, why don’t we and our leaders seek alternative fuels to reduce our oil and natural gas dependency and lead the world in a new global economy?