One of the major holdups in the expansion of the Keystone Pipeline was Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman’s apprehension. But after Nebraska state officials approved a revised route this week, both of Missouri’s U.S. Senators are calling on the president to sign off on the expansion.
The Keystone Pipeline already runs through Missouri. What the Keystone Pipeline XL would do is expand the pipeline – adding routes from Alberta to Kansas and Oklahoma to Texas.
It would also enlarge the size of the pipes’ diameter by 6 inches.
Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill brushed aside concerns voiced by many environmental groups.
“It’s not as if this isn’t going to come out of the ground and be used somewhere," McCaskill told reporters Wednesday. "It’s not as if we don’t approve this pipeline it’s not going to be pulled out of the ground.”
Republican Senator Roy Blunt has also called for the expansion.
"I joined a number of my colleagues -- more than half -- with a letter to the president again to approve the Keystone Pipeline," Blunt said.
53 senators signed the letter. But it remains to be seen how the president will respond, because as recently as Monday he called for more action to combat climate change.
Follow Chris McDaniel on Twitter: @csmcdaniel
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