Alaska expected the Trans-Alaska Pipeline to lead to the growth of chemical manufacturing and refining in the state. The Wall Street Journal concluded in September 1979 that the “capital intensive” oil industry had failed to create a significant number of permanent jobs for Alaska. After the pipeline was completed, unemployment grew, reaching 15% by June 1977. By September 1979 it had dropped to 11%, but private industry failed to expand substantially. 40% of Alaska’s workforce remained on the public payroll. This was a classic boomtown effect, in which the population of Alaska, particularly the interior city of Fairbanks, swelled in anticipation of petroleum construction jobs. Once the project was complete many thousands who had moved to the city were left unemployed. Eventually, by the mid-1980s, the pipeline project spawned additional spinoff pipelines, but they employed only a small fraction of the construction workers who had previously worked for Alyeska. Clearly, Trans-Alaska did not bring nearly as many jobs as promised.
The states through the Keystone XL Pipeline will be constructed should anticipate this boomtown effect and the potential for high unemployment to follow the pipeline’s completion. However, the potential unemployment in the wake of a boomtown may be limited, in this case, by faster construction. The lesson from Trans-Alaska however, is that long-term employment in these areas is unlikely to increase nearly as significantly as some people would like to believe.
The estimates are based on the idea that the pipeline will create permanently stable oil prices which will foster overall economic growth. However, there is no indication the pipeline would contribute to oil price stabilization. In fact, other TransCanada studies predict that oil prices in the Midwest will rise because the Keystone XL Pipeline will alleviate an oversupply there. No previous pipeline, such as Trans-Alaska, has ever stabilized global oil prices. All predictions for spinoff jobs rely on factors like the price of oil, energy innovation, politics, and the overall health of the economy. These variables are impossible to forecast and make predictions such as the Perryman Group’s unreliable.
Sorry, but experts say there is no threat to aquifers and many more jobs than you mentioned as ongoing inspections and maintenance after it is built along with processing jobs way into the future...
Hard to believe that you believe that everyone is uninformed...
I've read that the Koch bros. own the refineries in South Texas where this oil is going, if this pipeline is completed their net worth will double from 100 billion to 200 billion...... ...that should tell anyone where their misinformation is coming from.
For three years, at least, there have been nagging questions about Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia’s close ties to right-wing organizations and their funding mechanism the Koch Brothers, but without a rigorous code of ethics in place there was little chance they would be held to account for, or forced to stop, using their positions on the Court to promote the Koch brothers’ right-wing agenda. Two days ago, Clarence Thomas was at it again when he appeared at a Federalist Society “fundraiser” as a featured speaker that two other High Court justices, Antonin Scalia and Samuel Alito also attended. It is a violation of Canon 4C of the Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges who are forbidden from being “a speaker, a guest of honor, or featured on the program” of a fundraising event, but because Thomas, a federal judge, sits on the nation’s highest court he is exempt, apparently, from adhering to any code of conduct. Just when it appeared no-one in a position of authority would take action and demand Thomas be held accountable for his recurring ethical violations, a lone elected representative once again spoke out for the American people.
This political football is long from scoring a touchdown. The White House has announced, rightfully so, that the POTUS will veto the bill coming out of Congress. At that time, it will need the 60 votes again to override the veto. I don't believe the same 60 who voted for the bill's passing will vote for the override. That remains to be seen.
The main issue holding up the bill is the liability to our environment. BP pushed hard to keep from funding clean up after the big oil dump in the Gulf. They were forced to pay up and did. Now, they say they think they paid too much and are litigating trying to get money back. If the Koch's would escrow $1 billon of their over $100 billion as a clean-up reserve, I believe this would fly through without hesitation. Part of the issue is the significant political tie the Kochs have with Congress. If there is an environmental disaster, current elected officials would be hard pressed to hold the Kochs responsible. The environment would suffer significant negative effects while the responsibility was legislated and litigated. Put up or shut up!!!
The pipeline will have zero impact on U.S. dependence on foreign oil, U.S. unempoyment figures, and U.S. fuel prices. The pipeline will allow multi-billionaires to become multi-multi-billionaires. To date, large oil spill disasters have been at sea and there has been a certain amount of "solution by dilution". When millions of gallons or crude oil spills out on farmland and migrates into our drinking water sources, it could tank the entire Country's economy. The risk is not worth the reward. Common sense, however, will not play into the decision. Politics will.
God..get the damn pipeline built..
I...... US and Canadian companies involved....and hopefully will generate some tax revenues that will help bring down our out of control National Debt.
Well do something about it...instead of moaning..![]()
Except those corporations have excellent tax lawyers and will see to it that as little as possible will flow into government coffers anywhere so my guess is that you citizens will still own your debt.
Great post GOM..... one thing though... it would require 2/3rds of the House and the Senate to over-ride a veto. That probably could happen in the house, but that would mean 67 votes in the Senate. That would be impossible on this issue. So the Pipeline will not be approved.
Well do something about it...instead of moaning..![]()