The Keystone XL Pipeline Should Be Built

My ArgumentsI. Job CreationThe Keystone pipeline should be created because of the job growth it would produce. According to Speaker of the House John Bohener:"It's estimated that the Keystone XL project, which is funded entirely through private investment, would help create at least 20,000 new American jobs in manufacturing and construction. Analysis suggests it could create tens of thousands more, and could help address high gas prices as well. President Obama says he didn't have enough time to come to approve it - that he had no choice to reject the project. But as the Wall Street Journal editorial board put it, 'Keystone XL has been planned for years...'" [1]With the economy the way it is, I can't see why anyone would not build this pipeline as it is necessarry to produce jobs. Mr Frank writes:"For America's skilled craft construction professionals, any discussion of the Keystone XL project begins and ends with one word: JOBS," Mark Ayers, past head of the group, wrote in the Huffington Post last November. He noted that 'the Keystone pipeline represents the prospect for 20,000 immediate jobs...'" [2]The creation of 20,000 jobs would no doubt help the economy today. That is why we need the pipeline.II. GDPThe construction of the Keystone pipeline would be a major contribution to the nation's GDP. The Chicago Tribune reported that:"Keystone should be approved. This is a good project. It will give us energy and give us jobs. You want stimulus? This is a $7 billion deal to be done with private-sector funding." [3]And from Mr. Diebel:The Keystone XL pipeline will cost USD 7 billion to construct and will carry nearly 800,000 barrels of oil a day into the U.S. from Canada." [4]That money would greately help the Midwest's economy, which has suffered terribly from the recession.III. Decreasing Gas PricesThere has been a lot of pain at the pump lately and the Keystone pipeline will help get rid of the high prices we see. This is because there will be less demand for foreign oil. Sanati writes that:"They fear lots of Canadian crude could be shut in the ground with nowhere to go if this pipeline isn't built quickly. In addition, they say the few pipelines that do connect Canada's oil production region to the US currently flow where refining capacity is limited. This means less gasoline for your tank...The result would mean more supply for US consumers, and therefore, lower gasoline prices."And from Diebel:"A report published by The Economist stated that tar sands today account for nearly one and a half million barrels of oil produced every day, and by 2025 that number will rise to three and half million. Even though 70 percent of the world’s oil is controlled and produced by OPEC countries, half of the remaining global oil supply comes from tar sands. In other words, these “bituminous crudes” are here to stay." [4]The exact amount of improvement that will be given to the gas prices might be rather small, but any action to reduce the current prices should be taken.IV. Midwest EconomyAs stated above, the pipeline will contribute to the creation of jobs, higher GDP, and lower gas prices. This pipeline will help the Midwest economy, which suffered the most from the recent recession. If this pipeline comes in, things will turn around. According to Breitbart.com:"Costing $7 billion, the pipeline would create 20,000 well-paying construction jobs immediately. Midwest construction workers, one of the demographics hit hardest by the economic downturn, desperately need this project. While blue-collar workers would receive many of the direct benefits from Keystone's construction, thousands of businesses from nearly every state would have reaped indirect business were Obama to simply allow the Keystone project to be built. 2,400 American companies in 49 states are involved in the production of Canadian oil sands." [6]V. Long-term ContributionsEven if the economic benefits of the pipeline are not felt immediately, it has great long-term effects. According to ZFacts:"According to the Department of Energy, this one project will "essentially eliminate" oil imports from the Middle East. It will create more than 100,000 jobs and strengthen our relationship with a close ally and trading partner. A project like this should be a no-brainer, and there's simply no good reason it has been stuck in the State Department's red tape for nearly three years." [7]And from Pipeline News:"An independent study estimates that during the life of the project, the Keystone XL project is expected to stimulate: More than $20 billion in new spending for the U.S. economy; More than 118,000 person-years of employment; An increase of $6.5 billion in the personal income of Americans; Increased gross output (product) of $9.6 billion; and More than $585 million in state and local taxes in the states along the pipeline route. 'This project will also play an important role in linking a secure and growing supply of Canadian crude oil with the largest refining markets in the United States, significantly improving NorthAmerican energy security,'added Girling." [8] As we can see here, there are massive economic benefits.ConclusionI have proven that there are many benefits to constructing the Keystone pipline. There are many economic short-term and long-term benefits from creating it that will bring economic growth to the Midwest.Sources1. Boehner, John. "Boehner Column: President Obama’s Pipeline Decision: Bad for Jobs, Bad for our Economy, Bad for Energy Security." John Boehner Website. N.p, 20 Jan. 2012. Web. 2. Frank, Stephen. "Obama Lies To Union That Supports Keystone XL Pipeline." Stephen Frank's California Political News and Views. N.p, 2 May 2012. Web. 3. Chicago Tribune. "Pipeline politics: Misguided Obama blocks Keystone pipeline: Obama's decision will cost the U.S. jobs." Chicago Tribune Website. N.p, 19 Jan. 2012. Web.4. Diebel, Zac. "KeyStone Pipeline Capers present an Envrionmentalist's Nightmare for North America." The Cutting Edge News. N.p, 23 Sep, 2011. Web.5. Sanati, Cyrus. "Will the Keystone Pipeline Decision Affect Prices at the Pump?" MintLife. N.p, 23 Jan. 2012. Web. 6. Breitbart. "Search: Keystone Pipeline." Breitbart. N.p, N.d. Web.7. ZFacts. "Keystone Pipeline: Jobs? Energy Independence?" ZFacts. N.p, N.d. Web.8. Pipeline News. "Labor Agreement For Keystone XL Pipeline To Create 13,000 American Jobs." Pipeline News. N.p, N.d. Web.