Introduction to the Keystone XL Pipeline
Let me tell you about the Keystone XL pipeline project—it's a highly debated plan to build a 1,700-mile pipeline from Alberta's oil fields in Canada straight to refineries on the Texas Gulf Coast. The original project got scrapped in 2021, but with the U.S. presidency shifting back in 2025, there's talk of reviving it, though honestly, it seems unlikely since the developer isn't interested.
Presidential Actions on the Pipeline
During his first term, President Donald Trump issued a permit for the pipeline's construction in March 2019 after years of back-and-forth. Then, President Joe Biden pulled that permit right after he took office in January 2021. Fast forward to January 2025, and Trump, back in office for his second term, reversed Biden's decision with an executive order just days in.
Key Takeaways
- TC Energy, formerly TransCanada Corp., first proposed the Keystone pipeline in 2005.
- It aimed to move hard-to-extract heavy oil from Canadian oil sands to U.S. refiners.
- The project has sparked controversy over local and global environmental effects for years.
- Biden revoked the permit on January 20, 2021.
- Trump undid that revocation in January 2025 shortly after starting his second term.
Understanding the Keystone XL Pipeline
The project kicked off with a 2005 press release from TransCanada Corp., where they explained they're all about linking energy supplies to markets. They saw converting a natural gas pipeline for oil as a smart, cost-effective move to handle growing Canadian crude production.
Phase one ran from Hardisty, Alberta, to Steele City, Nebraska, then to refineries in Illinois. Phase two went south from Steele City through Kansas to Cushing, Oklahoma, and on to Nederland, Texas. Phase three was the Houston Lateral, directing oil to Houston-area refineries and terminals.
President Obama blocked further permits in 2015 to combat climate change. Trump flipped that with an executive order in his first week of 2017, actually 2019 for the permit. Republicans pushed it for job creation and economic boosts. Biden shut it down in 2021 after TC Energy halted construction.
How the Keystone Pipeline Works
The system moves diluted bitumen and synthetic crude from Alberta through states like Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma to refineries in Texas, Illinois, and Oklahoma. Canada's oil sands hold massive reserves of this heavy oil, which needs special refining. The XL extension could handle over 800,000 barrels per day.
Producing this heavy oil releases pollutants like soot, sulfides, hydrogen cyanide, and sulfur— that's a key point you should know.
Criticism of the Keystone Pipeline
Environmental groups, politicians, and locals have slammed the pipeline, especially its route near Nebraska's Sandhills and the Ogallala aquifer, which supplies water for U.S. crops. The bitumen it carries could spike greenhouse gas emissions.
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has sued multiple times—in 2017, 2019, and 2020—to block it. They argue tar sands oil is thicker, more corrosive, and leak-prone. A 2019 spill in North Dakota dumped 378,000 gallons, proving their point.
Operational Timeline and Climate Impact
The original Keystone ran from 2010 to 2021. The XL would revive it, but the developer isn't keen.
On climate change, the NRDC reported in 2025 that the State Department says tar sands oil emits 5% to 17% more carbon than initially thought. That adds up to 178.3 million metric tons yearly—equivalent to 38.5 million cars or 45.8 coal plants.
What Is Bitumen?
Bitumen is basically asphalt, pitch, or tar—a petroleum hydrocarbon from crude oil distillation. It shares traits with those materials.
The Bottom Line
This pipeline was meant to ship heavy oil from Canadian sands to U.S. refiners, but it faced immediate pushback over environmental risks. Biden killed the permit in 2021, shutting it down; Trump revived it in 2025. Supporters say it boosts oil supply from a friendly neighbor and enhances security, but the environmental downsides are real and potentially severe.
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