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Published On: Tue, Mar 5th, 2013

Pipefitters and plumbers union join Keystone pipeline supporters and hail new State dept report

A new U.S. State Department report is the latest evidence that the long-delayed Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada should be approved, supporters say. Monday a union representing pipefitters and plumbers has written to U.S. President Barack Obama urging him to approve the Keystone XL pipeline.

The United Association represents 52,000 workers in Canada, some of whom will be responsible for building the pipeline and maintaining it once it’s complete.

Keystone XL demonstration, White House,8-23-2011  photo Josh Lopez

Keystone XL demonstration, White House,8-23-2011 photo Josh Lopez

The draft report, issued Friday, finds there would be no significant environmental impact to most resources along the proposed route from western Canada to refineries in Texas. The report also said other options to get the oil from Canada to Gulf Coast refineries are worse for climate change.

The pipeline plan has become a flashpoint in the U.S. debate over climate change. Republicans and business and labor groups have urged the Obama administration to approve the project as a source of jobs and a step toward North American energy independence

Environmental groups have been pressuring the president to reject the pipeline, saying it would carry “dirty oil” that contributes to global warming. They also worry about a spill.

According to Marty Durbin, executive vice-president of the American Petroleum Institute:

“The latest impact statement from the State Department puts this important, job-creating project one step closer to reality.”

The top Republican in Congress, House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, said the new report “again makes clear there is no reason for this critical pipeline to be blocked one more day.”

“Americans are already suffering from the consequences of global warming, from more powerful storms like Hurricane Sandy to drought conditions currently devastating the Midwest and Southwest,” said Daniel Gatti of the group Environment America.

Production of oil from Canadian tar sands could add as much as 240 billion metric tons of global warming pollution to the atmosphere, Gatti said, a potential catastrophe that would hasten the arrival of the worst effects of global warming.

Gatti and other opponents said development of the vast tar sands is far from certain, despite assurances by the project’s supporters.

“Tar sands can be stopped, and we are stopping it,” Gatti said, citing a rally in Washington last month attended by an estimated 35,000 people. Project opponents also have blocked construction in Texas and Oklahoma and have been arrested outside the White House gate.

 

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- Writer and Co-Founder of The Global Dispatch, Brandon has been covering news, offering commentary for years, beginning professionally in 2003 on Crazed Fanboy before expanding into other blogs and sites. Appearing on several radio shows, Brandon has hosted Dispatch Radio, written his first novel (The Rise of the Templar) and completed the three years Global University program in Ministerial Studies to be a pastor. To Contact Brandon email [email protected] ATTN: BRANDON

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Have Your Say
  1. John Boehner calls Obama’s veto of Keystone project a ‘national embarrassment’ - The Global Dispatch says:

    […] Back in 2013, Unions joined supporters and praised the latest news from State, more here […]

  2. President Obama vetoes Keystone Pipeline bill - The Global Dispatch says:

    […] This is only the third veto by President Obama during his six years in office. Back in 2013, Unions joined supporters and praised the latest news from State, more here […]

  3. Keystone Pipeline vote fails in Senate by one vote, Mary Landrieu snubbed - The Global Dispatch says:

    […] Labor Unions have joined the Republicans on the Pipeline project, noting that the 2013 State Department investigation points to a safe project that will generate a lot of […]

  4. President Obama cornered on Keystone Pipeline, Dem Mary Landrieu calls for vote - The Global Dispatch says:

    […] In March of 2013, several unions came out in support of the pipeline project and praised data from the State Department which refuted environmentalists claims that this was “bad” for the climate – more detailed coverage HERE […]

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