Obama rejects Keystone XL pipeline and hails US as leader on climate change

President ends years of political drama and hands environmentalists a big victory with decision to turn down proposal to build 1,700-mile pipeline through US

Barack Obama ended seven years of high-wire political drama to reject the Keystone XL pipeline on Friday, saying the decision reflected America’s determination to be a global leader in the fight against climate change.

The move, less than four weeks before more than 190 countries gather in Paris to try to reach a global deal to reduce carbon pollution, reinforces Obama’s commitment to making climate change the domestic and international legacy of his second term in the White House – even in the face of Republican hostility.

“America is now a global leader when it comes to taking serious action on climate change,” Obama said from the White House on Friday, flanked by both secretary of state John Kerry and vice-president Joe Biden. “Frankly, approving that project would have undercut that global leadership, and that is the biggest risk we face: not acting.”

The president went on: “Today, the United States is leading on climate change.”

Obama’s rejection of the Keystone XL was the biggest victory in years for grassroots campaigners, who chained themselves to the gates of the White House and built unlikely alliances with landowners and ranchers in heartland states like Nebraska and Texas, to mobilise opposition to what had once been seen as a routine project.

“I feel like the boots have beaten the big oil suits for the first time in our country’s history,” said Jane Fleming Kleeb, leader of Bold Nebraska, which had fought the pipeline’s route across the state.

TransCanada, the Canadian firm behind the pipeline, said it was disappointed with Obama’s decision. “Today, misplaced symbolism was chosen over merit and science – rhetoric won out over reason,” Russ Girling, the chief executive of TransCanada, said in a statement.

Keystone’s rejection would be bad for jobs and the economy in Canada and the US, Girling said, adding that the company would review its options to possibly file a new application.

More at http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/nov/06/obama-rejects-keystone-xl-pipeline

I certainly didn't expect him to actually do that it's been on the table so long.

The pipeline feeds Canadian oil to markets in Europe.  It means nothing to the US.  They estimate that once built, the enterprise will employ some 11 or 12 people in the US, who will push buttons to move the oil.  Whoopie!!!  WTF should we destroy our beautiful countryside for that?

It has virtually no impact on the US.  It's just that big oil will be in the loop to ship the oil, and market it at the distribution end.  So they have lobbied hard for it.

The US is totally self-sufficient in oil for decades to come.  Every time you hear that the US is doing something to get oil, they mean so the American Oil Companies can do business in European and Asian markets, and not that the US needs any oil.

That's why this issue is split along party lines.  Democrats are motivated by the welfare of the American people, and the potential destruction of American property, while Republicans are motivated by special interests and the wealthy.  America will see no benefit from Keystone, but Republicans see the business opportunity.