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Republicans in the state Senate — including state Sen. Michele Brooks, R-50, Jamestown — support a resolution urging President Joe Biden renew plans for the Keystone XL pipeline.
This pipe line is a bad idea. The oil that travels through the pipeline is not “our” oil. It is Canadian oil, and it is some of the dirtiest oil on the planet. The oil must be heated to be transported. It is tar sand oil and is very abrasive and acidic. When it leaks (it is 3 times more likely to spill than conventional oil per mile traveled) it will have disastrous results. It is extremely difficult to clean up — it doesn’t even float. Keep in mind that pipelines do not produce oil, they only transport it. This pipeline is basically a short cut; no additional oil will result. This pipe line would terminate in Steel City, Nebraska, and eventually end up in the Gulf (probably Houston) where it will be refined and loaded onto ships for export. It will be sold to the highest bidder. In a March 2nd Sharon Herald article (“PA senators urge Biden to revive Keystone XL pipeline project”) pipeline supporters said “It will create economic development.” If the Republicans’ main concern is jobs, where were the vast majority of the GOP’s U.S. Representatives and Senators on the federal infrastructure bill? (A few Republicans did vote for it in the House and the Senate). The infrastructure Act will create about 2 million jobs per year and specifies that material used in similar projects must use American iron and steel. Is there any provision that mandates that for the Keystone XL pipeline? This pipe line will create only about 50 permanent jobs. It will cross indigenous tribal lands, and will put the Ogallala Aquifer, which provides drinking water for millions and 30 percent of America’s irrigation water, at risk. This pipe line is an extremely bad idea, it may benefit a few who are not even Americans, but it will put many millions of others at risk. I understand a vote has been taken in the PA Senate already. But I hope Senator Brooks and other officials do not support this extremely bad idea in the future. Charles Baldoff Hermitage |