Trump Revives Keystone XL Pipeline Debate with Call for Easy Regulatory Approvals

Image credits: Kyle Bakx/CBC

The Keystone XL pipeline project has been a contentious issue for years, with its construction being halted in 2021 by then-owner TC Energy Corp after former Democratic President Joe Biden revoked a key permit needed for a US stretch of the project. However, US President Donald Trump has recently revived the debate, urging the company that was building the pipeline to "come back to America" and pledging easy regulatory approvals for the project. In a social media post, Trump stated that his administration would offer easy approvals and an almost immediate start, saying "The Trump Administration is very different – easy approvals, almost immediate start! If not them, perhaps another Pipeline Company. We want the Keystone XL Pipeline built."

The pipeline was first proposed in 2008 to bring oil from the Alberta oil sands to US refiners and was expected to carry 830,000 barrels per day of Alberta oil sands crude to Nebraska. However, the project was delayed due to opposition from US landowners, Native American tribes, and environmentalists. Trump had approved a permit for the line in 2017, but it continued to face legal challenges that hampered construction. The project's original proponent, TC Energy Corp, has since spun off its oil pipeline business into a new company named South Bow Energy, which has stated that it has "moved on" from the Keystone XL project.

Despite the lack of interest from the original proponent, Trump's call to revive the project has been met with support from some, including Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who posted on social media that the project "should have never been cancelled" and urged for a focus on getting construction started immediately. However, others have expressed skepticism, citing the project's tumultuous history and the potential for legal challenges. Environmental concerns have also been raised, with many arguing that the project would hinder the US transition to cleaner fuels. The project's fate remains uncertain, with some speculating that Trump's enthusiasm for the project may be more about the overall concept of building a pipeline to get more crude oil into the US, rather than the specific Keystone XL project.

The Keystone XL pipeline project has become a metaphor for the larger debate over energy policy and the role of pipelines in the US. While some argue that the project is necessary to meet growing demand for oil, others contend that it would be a step backwards in the transition to cleaner fuels. The project's potential impact on the economy is also a topic of debate, with some arguing that it would create jobs and stimulate economic growth, while others claim that it would have negative economic and environmental consequences. As the debate over the Keystone XL pipeline project continues, it remains to be seen whether the project will ultimately be revived or if it will remain a contentious issue in the world of energy policy.

Here are some key points to consider: * The Keystone XL pipeline project was first proposed in 2008 and was expected to carry 830,000 barrels per day of Alberta oil sands crude to Nebraska. * The project was halted in 2021 by then-owner TC Energy Corp after former Democratic President Joe Biden revoked a key permit needed for a US stretch of the project. * US President Donald Trump has recently revived the debate, urging the company that was building the pipeline to "come back to America" and pledging easy regulatory approvals for the project. * The project's original proponent, TC Energy Corp, has since spun off its oil pipeline business into a new company named South Bow Energy, which has stated that it has "moved on" from the Keystone XL project. * The project's fate remains uncertain, with some speculating that Trump's enthusiasm for the project may be more about the overall concept of building a pipeline to get more crude oil into the US, rather than the specific Keystone XL project.