How the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline would affect the Term Paper

How the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline would affect the United States - Term Paper Example The current US energy policy allows Canada to ship oil to main refineries in the US; the congress should reject any attempts to authorize the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline (Alperrovitz and Speth 164). Geothermal power, coal and hydroelectric energy are friendlier to the ecosystem. Coal has some negative impacts like air pollution but it can be exploited cheaply. Hydroelectric energy is more reliable and sustainable to produce since the US has many rivers and dams. The US energy policy should aim at enhancing biodiesels energy since it does not damage the environment and encourages recycling of waste. The government should invest heavily in geothermal power exploitation in order to meet the current energy needs and ensure sustainability of the energy supply (Fickling and Schott 67). Statement of the purpose Keystone XL pipeline will cover about 1661 miles from Alberta through Oklahoma and finally terminate in Texas. The pipeline is intended to ship Canada oil sands to US refineries in the Gulf coast. TransCanada, which is the company behind the pipeline proposal, has made plans of constructing the pipeline using thinner steel in order to avoid instances of oil spillage. If plans of the pipeline proceed, the pipeline will increase the level of toxic tar to the US ecosystem and jeopardize national goals of achieving renewable and clean energy sources. The pipeline will transport approximately 1 million barrels of crude oil daily to the US refineries. Keystone XL pipeline construction has both positive and negative consequences to the US economy (Rapier 237). The debate of the pipeline project has become a major political weapon especially in the current election year, where several politicians have taken opposing views on whether the US congress should permit Keystone XL pipeline constru ction. The pipeline will boast the staggering economy through additional jobs in construction sites and refineries. The pipeline will adversely affect the climate policy since heavy and poisonous gas emissions are expected from the refineries (Alperrovitz and Speth 173). The pipeline will destroy water resources since it will cut through several rivers that supply safe drinking and agricultural water to the communities living near the pipeline (Fickling and Schott 69). There have been numerous public concerns and heated debate on dirty oil emissions and oil spillage that may damage the US ecosystem. Introduction On November 4th 2011, TransCanada announced its support for the Keystone XL pipeline. The State of Nebraska supports the development of the pipeline. If the proposed pipeline is approved, the pipeline will avoid sand hills since Nebraskans will give their decisions on the pipeline root (Rapier 270). The proposed pipeline will expand the current TransCanada Keystone pipeline network. It will have the capacity to deliver the Canadian oil sands up to 100,000 barrels per day from the production in North Dakota and Bakken formation (Rapier 237). The production of oil from North Dakota has shot up in the past few years from the initial 100,000 barrels per day to the current 450,000 barrels per day (Rapier 277). According to the US law, cross border pipeline projects should receive Presidential permit and the authority is delegated to the State Department. Under the current North American Free Trade Agreement