Bernie Sanders Shatters The Big Keystone XL Lie: Pipeline Will Cause US Gas Prices To Go Up

[Triana]

Sen. Bernie Sanders is telling the American people what the supporters of Keystone XL don’t want them to hear. The pipeline won’t create jobs, but it will cause the price of gas to increase in the United States.

Sanders said,

When people tell you that Keystone is a jobs program, they’re not telling you the truth. According to the State Department, it will create about 2,000 temporary construction jobs over a two-year period, and then about fifty permanent jobs. If you want a jobs program, let’s rebuild our crumbling infrastructure Invest a trillion dollars into doing that, and create 13 million jobs, not 2,000 jobs.

This oil, at least a significant part of this oil is going to be exported to Asia. In fact, there are at least three different studies, including one at Cornell, which suggest that because of the refinery infrastructure, domestic prices will actually go up. So here we are doing something which will exacerbate climate change, will create a minimal amount of jobs, will enrich the companies that own the oil fields and who do the refining, and at the same time, raise gas prices in the United States. This does not make a lot of sense to me.

Media Matters reported in 2012, that the Keystone XL pipeline could increase gas prices in the Midwest, “Because the southern portion of the Keystone XL pipeline would relieve the current glut of oil in the Midwest, some energy analysts believe it would raise gasoline prices there. Energy expert Severin Borenstein told Media Matters: ‘If anything it will raise gas prices slightly in the Midwest by relieving the bottleneck on getting oil out of that area.’ Canadian economist Andrew Leach agreed, saying: ‘Long term, it’s probably close to a wash, but if anything, it’s a small increase from eliminating the crude glut in the Midwest.

THE REST:

http://www.politicususa.com/2014/11/07/bernie-sanders-shatters-big-keystone-xl-lie-pipeline-oil-prices.html

[Brickbat]

1. The dig on construction jobs being "temporary" always bugs me.

A graphic designer at a creative agency is "temporary" the same way. He works from project to project as an employee. It works that way with construction companies who are big enough to bid on these projects.

[adirondacker]

8. The temporary is well known and referred to as "chasing money around"

Typically salaried positions that are 72-80+ hour work weeks, high cost of living that sucks every last penny of per diem, and Dangerous due to incompetent Project Managers and fatigued workers. Bonuses are given to the shit that rises to the top.

Been there, done that.

[Spider Jerusalem]

2. I love the cognitive dissonance.

If you claim to be concerned about climate change and at the same time bang the drum on "low gas prices"? You're a hypocrite. Possibly an unconscious one, but a hypocrite nonetheless.

[BrotherIvan]

4. He is trying to counter the disinformation

They are selling the pipeline as new jobs + cheap oil. He is trying to say that is untrue. I don't think he is advocating for an increase in fossil fuel use. There have been threads recently with video of him supporting alternative energy as well. I am glad to see Sanders going after Keystone. But since very few Democrats will back him up, one has to wonder why. Maybe they're all on the Koch payroll (wink wink).

[Enthusiast]

6. +1! That was pretty obvious to me.

Bernie was pointing out the truth. Often the truth is not popular on DU.

[BrotherIvan]

9. I see the argument

We shouldn't be artificially lowering gas prices because that will keep us dependent on fossil fuels. We should be talking about alternative energy instead of gas. Totally agree. But we also have to make sure people can have heating and transportation in tandem. I do expect leaders to push the country toward alternatives. And I can't think of anyone better than Bernie Sanders to do it.

[WhiteTara]

3. Bwahahaha. Prices to go up in Oklahoma and Texas. Yep

[Wellstone ruled]

5. Look at what is realing going down..

This heavy sludge called Bitumus is nasty crap. With Keystone this crap will be mixed with Bakken crude to make it less abrasive in the Pipe there for insuring a certain life of the Pipe. This is just the second straw,first straw will be completed this winter. That name is Enbridge which cuts across Northern Minnesota to Wrenshaw and Superior to Chicago and then south. The Pipeliner Rellie says they have to wait for the ground to freeze up as to get the heavy equipment across the swamps and bogs. Contract has a finish time next spring.
er
It's all about the export business and nothing more. Great example of how we are trapped in the so called fossil fuel circle was,last winter we had a Propane shortage along the northern tier states along the Canada border. Yah,right,Kinder-Morgan reversed their Pipeline that serves the Refineries in the Midwest,to pipe U.S. propane to the Tar Sands of Alberta. They needed more propane than could be supplied locally,to cook out this Bitumus crap. Mean while,all of those folks who live in rural communities that are not served by a natural gas pipe,paid a seven fold price caused by the shipping of U.S. propane to Canada. What I find so fascinating is,these same folks who were ripped off voted Rethug for the most part.

Does anyone know if the new refinery in or near Hybernia,South Dakota still a go? Tom Dashle and John Thune project.

[woo me with science]

7. K&R

[bigwillq]

10. K and R (nt)

[badtoworse]

11. If you're a construction worker, your job is always temporary

2,000 jobs for 2 years is a good project for workers in the construction trades.