Keystone XL Pipeline: A proposal for compromise

Letter below was published on Bernardsville News website on 02-13-15 under title “Keystone pipeline debate ‘more about symbols than substance’.”  It was published in the print version on 02–26-15 under the title “More symbols than substance.”

Editor:

The U.S. Senate passed a bill to authorize construction of the Keystone XL pipeline to help transport oil from the Canadian oil sands to refineries on our Gulf coast.  As I write here on February 12 the House of Representatives just passed this version.  It will go to the president, who is expected to veto it.

We might then conclude that nothing was accomplished.  This would be a mistake.  Several amendments were submitted and voted up or down during the Senate debate.  One of these contained sense-of-the-Senate language that climate is changing.  It received 98 yes votes.  Another amendment said that humans are contributing to this change.  It received 59 yes votes, including 15 from Republicans.

This is progress.  A substantial majority of U.S. senators are on record in support of the proposition that “it is extremely likely that global increases in atmospheric (greenhouse gas) concentrations and global temperatures are caused by human activities.”  The logical next step is action to reduce these activities and slow the increases.

I propose a compromise.  Congress will adopt, and the president will sign a bill to authorize Keystone XL that contains sense-of-Congress language that follows:

“Human activities are increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases and thereby contributing to global warming and climate change.  The federal government should act to reduce these activities.”

The Keystone XL debate is more about symbols than substance.  Those who support it claim  it will produce jobs.  The official report for the project estimates that only thirty five permanent jobs will be produced.  Construction over two years will add $3.4 billion to our $17 trillion economy.

Those who oppose the pipeline cite the risks of leaks.  These risks are real.  With careful construction and monitoring, they will probably be lower than the risks associated with transport of oil by train.

Very important as a symbol is the enormous reserve of fossil fuel in the Canadian oil sands.  Carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels is the most important greenhouse gas.  If we want to reduce the use of fossil fuels, we should not facilitate development of this reserve.  Note, however, that energy is a key component of the Canadian economy.  A pipeline to the Canadian west coast will probably be constructed if Keystone XL is not.

The proposed compromise will open the door to the economic benefits of the pipeline.  It will put Congress on record in support of action to slow production of all greenhouse gases.  This is more important than action focused on oil sands.

This will be a good bargain overall and will show that Congress and the president can work together.  I will propose it to the president and our members of Congress.  I invite your readers to do the same.

I will close with a plug for a proposal I have made here multiple times, most recently in a letter published on October 9, 2014.  The most important action our federal government can take to reduce the activities that produce greenhouse gases and slow global warming is to authorize and implement a system of carbon fee and dividend.  For more about this system go to my website www.JerseyGrandpa.com.

Bill Allen