In a move that has been equally hailed by environmental groups as it has been condemned by Republicans , Barack Obamahas rejectedthe controversial plans to build the Keystone XL pipeline . The determination ends a long and often pregnant seven - yr battle to gain grammatical construction blessing for the project , which would see rock oil piped 1,897 kilometer ( 1,179 statute mile ) from the gob sands of Alberta , Canada , to refinery on the Texas Gulf Coast .
In his official announcement of the rejection on Friday , Obama citedthree main reasonsfor his verdict . This first is that despite an initial increment in construction chore , the labor “ would not make a meaningful farseeing - term contribution to our economy,”he said . The second reason is that despite claim by those who support the pipeline , it would not extend to low vigor prices – a decay which has already occur due to an increment in domestic gas pedal production . at last , he said that Keystone XL will not increase energy surety , and that role could instead be filled by renewable vigour sources .
The move has come in Obama ’s final term in office , during which he has bring the competitiveness against climate modification to the front . The rejection is also seen as a move to fortify his position in the up - and - come COP21 mood talking in Paris later this calendar month , stating : “ America is now a global drawing card when it come up to taking serious action on climate change . ”
The Canadian companionship behind the project , TransCanada , was obviously unhappy with the conclusion , saying that“Today , misplace symbolism was chosen over meritoriousness and skill – rhetoric won out over reason . ” The finding of fact has also been heavily criticized by members of Congress who support the labor , with some planning on mounting a challenge to the decision in court . And if a Republican manages to get elected next yr , it ’s thought that they could still overthrow the move .
Even so , the news is seen as a major win for grassroots action fighting against the fogey fuel and extractive industries , with imperativeness follow not just from environmental group , but also landowners and autochthonic right group who have all rallied together to fight the projection .
