Keystone Pipeline

In February 9, 2005, the TransCanada proposed a pipeline system that would be able to transport crude oil from Canada into the United States. The pipeline was given the name the Keystone Pipeline System. Originally, the pipeline was to run from Alberta, Canada to refineries in Illinois. However, in 2008 another proposition was raised in order to extend the pipeline even further to down to Texas. The proposition is known as the Keystone XL. The possible construction of the pipeline is a controversial topic. Entrepreneurs believe that such a pipeline will stimulate the nation's economy and lead to an increase in the amount of jobs. On the other side, environmentalists believe that the pipeline will be detrimental for the environment as the pipeline can be prone to leakage at any given time. That being said, it is crucial to decide whether or not the Keystone is in the nation's best interest. Can this pipeline catapult us out of a recession or will it only hurt us in the long run? Personally, I believe that there is a possibility for both situations to occur. The Keystone Pipeline will be able to spur the nation's economy to a certain extent by providing a limited amount of jobs and slightly decreasing our dependency on foreign oil, but it will also aid in the destruction of our environment through carbon emissions and the risk of tar sand spillage.
Due to the extension of the Keystone Pipeline, TransCanada predicts that thousands of jobs will arise in order to construct the pipeline. The Keystone XL stretches for approximately 1,700 miles through Canada and the United States. The $7-billion project will have the capacity to transport 830,000 barrels of crude oil a day. 25% of the oil being transported will come from American soil while the rest will be found in Canada. As a result, TransCanada predicts that 20,000 direct and 180,000 spin-off jobs will arise from construction of the pipeline. According to the Labor Network for Sustainability, over two million