Proposed Trans-US oil pipieline - a disaster waiting to happen!

[30A Skunkape]

Take your pick, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and Iran, or Canada.

Independent of what the writers of Mother Jones think (to which I wouldn't grant more than a small paper weight of influence anyway) if TransCanada can show it's safe and will produce the amount of oil they claim it will, I say build it.

I will add that it's very unfortunate that this source of crude has "the potential to undermine America's clean energy future and international leadership on climate change" ...but we need the resources. Plus it'll keep Canada's single payer healthcare system afloat for another half century. They could use the help.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystone_Pipeline

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athabasca_Oil_Sands

I'm not sure what the truth is here, but I do remember a story on NPR a few months ago detailing the campaign the Oklahoma petroleum interests were planning on putting on to fight this pipeline. Something tells me there is a weird confederacy of Okies and the anti-petroleum crowd at work.

 

[LuciferSam]

We could change the subject again to Weiner's weiner, if people want a more light hearted discussion.

Let's not and say we did.

 

[Bob]

there's peat under the sand in Sowal. if the Scots can burn it, i say we strip mine the beaches. it will make us energy independent. How about body flange. There's enough obese people south of the mason dixon line to power a grease fire generator to last us 100 years or more. we could have liposuction candidates receiving energy tax credits for their cellulite.

 

[LuciferSam]

there's peat under the sand in Sowal. if the Scots can burn it, i say we strip mine the beaches. it will make us energy independent. How about body flange. There's enough obese people south of the mason dixon line to power a grease fire generator to last us 100 years or more. we could have liposuction candidates receiving energy tax credits for their cellulite.

Why don't we just start breeding fuel whales?

 

[Bob]

only if the whales are family oriented, willing to die for their country, and have their green cards.

 

[AlphaCrab]

I understand that our Governor, Mr Scott, has proposed that this pipeline be extended and diverted so as to "snake" along both coasts of Florida through NW Fla, South AL and MS and La. before it reaches the Texas refineries--to lessen the odds, and the financial burdens, of a major spill being shouldered by just a few states.

 

[30ashopper]

I'm not sure what the truth is here, but I do remember a story on NPR a few months ago detailing the campaign the Oklahoma petroleum interests were planning on putting on to fight this pipeline. Something tells me there is a weird confederacy of Okies and the anti-petroleum crowd at work.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304563104576355812488802804.html

There's oil in them thar hills. Sounds like a bit of good old fashion competition with dash of special interests mixed in for good measure.

 

[scooterbug44]

Take your pick, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and Iran, or Canada.

Independent of what the writers of Mother Jones think (to which I wouldn't grant more than a small paper weight of influence anyway) if TransCanada can show it's safe and will produce the amount of oil they claim it will, I say build it.

I will add that it's very unfortunate that this source of crude has "the potential to undermine America's clean energy future and international leadership on climate change" ...but we need the resources. Plus it'll keep Canada's single payer healthcare system afloat for another half century. They could use the help.

The problem is that it ISN'T even close to safe! This company has pipelines in the US already - and has spilled more than a million gallons of the stuff IN THE LAST YEAR in 4 states!

 

[30ashopper]

The problem is that it ISN'T even close to safe! This company has pipelines in the US already - and has spilled more than a million gallons of the stuff IN THE LAST YEAR in 4 states!

http://www.argusleader.com/article/...-station-along-Keystone-pipeline-causes-spill

I think your numbers are off, they've had one "major" spill of about 500 barrels when a valve fitting broke. Granted that's not great news but I don't see it as a valid reason to stop using the pipeline. If the number of major problems continues then I think it'a reasonable to look at the viability of the project but it's too soon to make a call like that yet.

 

[scooterbug44]

Sorry, I think those stats were referencing other recent pipeline spills, not just the Keystone line. The spill in Michigan has cost $500 million in damage and is the worst ever in the Midwest.

The Keystone pipeline has already had 12 spills, with 2 "major" ones in May alone. 2,100 gallons in Kansas followed by 21,000 gallons in North Dakota 3 weeks later. Their prediction was 50 barrels once every 7 years. Adding up their spills so far, they have already used up their "predicted" spills for the next 200 years.

And that's on a NEW pipeline.

http://tarsandspipelines.wordpress.com/2011/01/15/another-day-another-keystone-pipeline-spill/
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/aswift/the_first_keystone_tar_sands_p.html
http://www.onearth.org/article/tar-sands-pipelines-pose-massive-risks