Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Could Keystone Pipeline bring an economic boom?

Details

  • Description

    Nebraska residents hoping for new jobs from XL

  • Duration 8:14
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Special Investigations

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

It is a project that would create thousands of jobs and generate much needed revenue and towns that stretched from Alberta Canada all the way down to the oil refineries in Texas.

But dreams of work and prosperity remain just that dreams because the keystone XL oil pipeline remained -- -- by the president.

And staunch environmentalist now we travel to Nebraska to investigate.

We can't afford to just wait for congress you can't afford to wait.

So -- congress won't act I would.

But there is one issue where President Obama does want to wait and that's the proposed to 1700.

Mile keystone XL oil pipeline.

Now would be a stretch from Alberta Canada to refineries in Texas and his opponents say time is up.

I'm gonna make sure we've -- that.

-- glad that from Canada that Keystone Pipeline.

Now while there have -- -- bend over 101000 pages of environmental reports and review on this project.

The Obama administration is postponed approval until after more studies are done and that is not sitting well with many in congress.

This time to decide.

President Obama and his administration and made a decision not to decide.

At the center of this battle is farmlands in Nebraska.

On the one side environmentalists.

-- On the other side workers.

Here in the state and Nebraska were talking up to 2000 jobs.

For up to two years.

We're talking about tax revenue for the state and Nebraska and local communities have this -- gonna go through.

And I think you the private capital issue is a major part of this we're not looking tough for taxpayer dollars.

Were were.

Working with a company that is investing the money to provide jobs.

And I think it's beneficial for everybody including.

The country as a whole it.

-- the environmentalists have big money and celebrity endorsements on their side it's called the keystone XL and -- such a terrible idea.

Every clear -- environmental organization you can think he's against it.

So focus stop this mega stupid neck up pipelines.

Q can't President Obama and now the project's environmental impact study finds the pipeline would not threaten the environment.

And local lawmakers argue that most critics don't know the facts.

All due respect you don't give a damn -- for us.

Project owner TransCanada has agreed to reroute the pipeline.

Away from the Nebraska sand hills it's a fragile ecosystem that lies over huge underground water source which supplies much of the water to the center of America.

Can't tell you how many times people came up to me and said.

We support this pipeline we support the jobs.

And we support the energy security that is bringing to our country we just wish you could move it out of the sand hills and so I'm hoping by by doing what was agreed to today.

We're gonna make a vast majority of Nebraska -- happy.

But some activists and farmers are still not buying it.

I have never witnessed any project that has stirred the emotions and my fellow Nebraska -- like the keystone XLI us.

Even -- -- voluntary agreement to move the pipeline out of the sand hills.

We remain very skeptical yet to see the impact -- pipeline can hand.

They only have to look a few miles away where trans Canada came through and built their first Keystone Pipeline just a few years ago.

We had you know 750.

Construction workers.

They came into our community.

And economic impact.

More than ten million dollars.

This happen in our community at the height of the recession.

Summer of 2000.

Tony miles owns Tony steak house and just outside of Norfolk Nebraska it was just a total boon for an entire.

Area you know they had to buy diesel fuel gas and food.

RV parks was a tremendous boost and ourselves -- -- -- Throughout the region not just -- -- for a period that surrounding communities.

From my point of view and the business people's point of view in this area they were not -- a -- for passing -- and for that reason but haven't come back through and it's not just a temporary boost to the economy.

To support the pipeline TransCanada will be upgrading the power grid.

Which benefits all residents and pushing their power rates lower than.

When a company such as trains candidate comes in and puts in a large electrical facility like these multiple pumping stations along the route.

They actually pay for the construction of those very expensive sub stations.

Which enhances the capabilities of our grid so -- it's much more than just a pipeline it's a utility and that puts downward pressure on the -- for even our residential customers.

Who are struggling and you know what some tough economic times and he -- and just some of the -- utility bill.

So those who have lived through the pipeline construction dismissed concerns and say that not only is -- a huge economic boost but it's safe and virtually invisible.

They're immaculate job if you just curious to -- today and you can find that pipeline the only -- an abundance of the world pumping station this.

They're -- tremendously good neighbor and we knew we anticipate them being a good neighbor in the next pipeline just as well I think it's probably one of the most of monitored -- should ever be created in the United States.

Now Nebraska congressman Lee Terry says that enough is enough.

With thousands of jobs being jeopardized by the delays and he's now introducing legislation to start construction.

Of all of the pipeline other than the Nebraska portion while the new -- is being studied.

We want the environmental studies done.

But the question is why do you want to shut down the northern routes.

When construction.

Should be approved.

And starting.

As for the president.

The people of Nebraska have a message we can't wait.

There's a huge project.

With a lot of private capital.

That is not to rely on taxpayer dollars.

Indy is gonna put thousands of folks to work especially when we have such high and employment.

And -- to me now to the people featured in that piece Nebraska congressman Lee Terry and Norfolk area chamber of commerce president and CEO Dennis house than.

Has to thank you for being here right.

So let let me see if I understand this thousands of jobs would be created.

We would we're helping the limit.

Our our dependency on foreign oil than we pay lower gas prices at the pump.

Creating jobs increasing -- where's at downside.

I haven't found the down side -- -- you would think that creating tens of thousands of jobs.

Having.

The thirty.

Largest pool of oil in the world 200 miles from your northern border with the greatest trading partner and friend we can have.

In in Canada would be enough.

But I'm even concerned now with the president in action here because China is taking up all of the oil since they breached.

Up significant created a significant beachhead on those oil sands in North America now.

Aren't so what's it.

-- like from from this area.

You've you've got all of this oil available yet all these jobs waiting for the DC the environmentalists that are protesting how bad is abandoned in your area.

Quiet in our example Sean -- -- We're real life experience of how how good it can do for community mean when the original pipeline came to our community three years ago.

You know it brought all those new jobs to our community -- it created.

The third largest employer in the rural community and I think -- at the time when mainstream.

And rural America you know needs to reach out and say how we get those -- -- communities if a Barack Obama's president for the next four years will this ever get it completed.

I I really don't have the confidence in our president to allow the permit which is why I wrote the bill and gave that power to congress -- we can get that bill passed.

He is so tied into the environmental groups.

And this is their number one issue they said killing the Keystone Pipeline is there -- number one issue.

So if that's their number one issue where is it on the president's agenda right guys thank you very much for -- and.

Load More