Keystone XL Pipeline developer plans to announce decision by end of year

Thursday, August 3, 2017  

President Donald Trump has repeatedly taken credit for reviving the Keystone XL Pipeline yet the project is far from a certainty.

But it's not due to opposition from tribes along the 1,179-mile route. The Canadian developer behind the project isn't sure whether it makes sense to move forward with the multi-billion dollar pipeline.

"Our assessment of these factors will really drive our investment decision when we get into that November-December time frame," an executive at TransCanada said on a July 28 conference call with investors, Thomson Reuters reported.

Tribes and tribal activists have been fighting the pipeline for years. They thought the battle was over when then-president Barack Obama refused to grant a key permit for the project.

Then Trump came on board. After embracing large infrastructure projects during his campaign, he invited TransCanada to resubmit its application just four days into office. The permit was approved barely two months later.

The pipeline would carry oil extracted from Canada through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. From there it would connect with existing infrastructure in Kansas and in Oklahoma

The routes in Montana and South Dakota have been approved despite tribal opposition. Regulators in Nebraska aren't expected to decide until November.

Read More on the Story:
Keystone XL survived politics but economics could kill it (AP 8/3)
TransCanada official casts doubt on Keystone XL pipeline project (The Omaha World-Herald 7/29)
TransCanada to make final decision on Keystone XL by December (Thomson Reuters 7/28)
TransCanada may decide not to build Keystone XL (The Lincoln Journal Star 7/28)
People weigh in on Keystone XL during final public hearing (The Lincoln Journal Star 7/28)

President Trump doesn't seem to know where Dakota Access Pipeline goes (July 14, 2017)
YES! Magazine: Native activists continue to pressure banks on pipelines (July 10, 2017)
Tribes unite in signing declaration against Keystone XL Pipeline (May 16, 2017)
James Trimarco: Contact the banks funding Keystone and DAPL (May 15, 2017)
YES! Magazine: Stopping the flow of dollars to the Keystone XL Pipeline (May 11, 2017)
YES! Magazine: Ponca Tribe starts 273-mile march on trail of tears (May 1, 2017)
Gyasi Ross: Native grandmother and 'hellraiser' Faith Spotted Eagle (April 7, 2017)
Native Sun News Today: Groups line up to fight Keystone XL permit (April 7, 2017)
Indigenous Environmental Network challenges Keystone XL permit (April 4, 2017)
Two tribes granted role in Keystone XL Pipeline review in Nebraska (April 3, 2017)
Native Sun News Today: Indian Country battles Keystone XL again (March 31, 2017)
Donald Trump boasts about approvals for Dakota Access and Keystone XL (March 28, 2017)
Indian Country mounts another fight after Donald Trump approves another pipeline (March 24, 2017)
Keystone XL Pipeline route crosses path of Ponca Tribe's forced removal (March 23, 2017)
Native Sun News Today: 'We're still here and we're not going away!' (March 17, 2017)
Native Sun News Today: Tribes promise fight against Keystone XL (March 15, 2017)
Native Sun News Today: Tribes resume fight against Keystone XL permit in South Dakota (March 13, 2017)
Fort Peck Tribes seek Keystone XL reroute to protect water supply (March 1, 2017)
Native Sun News Today: Tribes push back on Trump's pipeline orders (February 1, 2017)
Democracy Now: President Trump declares pipeline war on Indian Country (January 30, 2017)
Raúl Grijalva: Tribes ignored once again as President Trump pushes oil pipelines (January 30, 2017)
Tribes push back as President Donald Trump revives unwanted pipelines (January 25, 2017)
Democrats blast President Trump for ignoring Native opposition to pipelines (January 24, 2017)
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