U.S. chamber head supports Keystone XL pipeline

September 26, 2011

Vancouver Sun

By Dan Healing, Calgary Herald

BANFF — Loud applause greeted a forceful defence of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline by the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at the Global Business Forum on Friday.

Thomas Donohue, admitting he was fired up by a tour Thursday of the “extraordinary” northern Alberta oilsands, called on the American government to approve the $7-billion, 2,700-kilometre pipeline that is designed take oilsands and northern U.S. crude to refineries on the Gulf Coast.

“The United States, frankly, has no choice,” he said. “It can secure access to a stable, reliable supply of oil from Canada, where human rights and the environment are protected, or we can continue to be over reliant on imports from nations who do not share those values.”

He said the delay in approving the TransCanada project is responsible for growing support in Canada for more oil pipeline capacity to the West Coast to supply the Chinese market.

“You ought to build both,” he said, adding as an aside: “But don’t do the West Coast deal until after we get the other one done.”

The XL proposal is being reviewed by the U.S. State Department, which must issue a presidential permit for the cross-border pipeline to be built.

Environmental organizations, some residents along the proposed route and officials from select states affected, particularly Nebraska, have vocally rejected the pipeline on fears it would allow oilsands development to ramp up, increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and that any potential spills could damage sensitive habitat along the route.

Dave Collyer, president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, said in an interview Donohue “hit the mark” with his comments, adding that opponents of the project are in the minority.

He said a promised protest by actors such as Gordon Pinsent and Dave Thomas next Monday in Ottawa will likely generate some news coverage, as did a recent protest in Washington.

“I don’t think the protest in the U.S., frankly, got a lot of traction and I don’t expect the protest in Canada this week will either,” said Collyer.

An American guest panellist at the forum whose three-year-old California-based company is planning to build solar power generation plants said later many in the U.S. renewable energy business support the pipeline project.

“The idea of conventional fuel flowing from where it is to where it’s needed, I think that’s great for energy security and energy independence,” said Andrew Wang, development director for SolarReserve.

“Conventional fuel is here to stay. It’s an asset to be used. I favour conventional to the extent that it doesn’t harm the environment.”

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