3 Myths about Keystone.

• Author: Saldana, Dave

Myth 1: Keystone XL will create more than 100,000 jobs in the United States.

Background

Many Keystone proponents use the more conservative figure of 20,000 jobs, but the Republican-controlled House Energy and Commerce Committee insists that additional 100,000 jobs will spring from the pipeline. Meanwhile, the American Petroleum Institute projects 500,000 jobs by 2035.

Reality

The U.S. State Department Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement found that once operational, Keystone XL would employ thirty-five permanent employees and fifteen contractors.

Cornell University's Global Labor Institute recommended "a high level of skepticism regarding the value of KXL as an important source of American jobs." It also found that the pipeline could put at risk much of the $76 billion in agriculture and related industries in the states the pipeline would traverse, jeopardizing half a million jobs in agriculture alone.

Myth 2: The Keystone XL pipeline would pump billions into the economy.

Background

TransCanada claims that the pipeline and related economic activity will generate $45 billion a year for the United States.

Reality

"U.S. gasoline prices will rise, with the greatest effect on the Midwest," reports Consumer Watchdog. The group predicts a rise of twenty-five cents to forty cents a gallon. It concludes: "The overall economic benefit to U.S. consumers is in doubt." Those who would benefit include Motiva, the largest refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, which is jointly owned by the Saudi state-run oil company, Aramco, and Royal Dutch Shell. Valero, which is U.S.-owned, would also benefit, but U.S. taxpayers may not. The San Antonio-based company made $68 billion in sales...