Biden To Cut Off His Nose To Spite His Face
By Paul Homewood
Signalling his commitment to quickly confront climate change, President-elect Joe Biden is planning to move within days to quash the controversial multibillion-dollar Keystone XL pipeline, according to two individuals familiar with the decision who spoke on the condition of anonymity because it had not been announced yet.
The politically symbolic pipeline, promoted by the oil and gas industry since it was first proposed about 15 years ago, has drawn opposition because it would carry tar sands, or heavy bitumen, from the boreal forests of northern Alberta, Canada, to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast. The energy used in extracting these molasses-like petroleum supplies would contribute heavily to climate change.
It appears likely that one of Sleepy Joe’s first actions will be to cancel the Keystone XL oil pipeline, which has been the ball in a ping pong game between Democrats and Republicans since Obama’s days in 2010.
The action has more to do with placating his far left supporters than saving the planet from global warming.
Currently oil is already flowing from Alberta through the original Keystone pipeline. Keystone XL is designed to increase that capacity, and thereby save the need for shipping by rail the oil that Keystone cannot currently handle. Anybody with a bit of common sense would realise that cutting rail journeys would reduce emissions, not to mention be much safer.
Worse still, most of Keystone XL has already been built, just leaving a gap in Nebraska, where eco-activists have been fighting against it through the courts.
According to the US Chamber of Commerce, the Keystone XL will:
- Produce 20,000 well-paying jobs during manufacturing and construction;
- Increase personal income for all America workers by $6.5 billion during the lifetime of the project.
- Generate an estimated $138.4 million in annual property tax revenue for state governments and local entities where the pipeline is located;
- Create $585 million in new taxes for communities among the pipeline route;
- Create more than $5.2 billion in property taxes during the lifetime of the pipeline.
- Generate additional private sector investment of around $20 billion on food, lodging, fuel, vehicles, equipment, construction supplies and services.
Even if Biden has his way and stops importing Canadian oil, it will make no difference at all, because Canada will simply export it to Asian markets, where demand for energy is insatiable.
BP Energy Review
As for Canada itself, despite Justin Trudeau’s green pretensions, oil production has been steadily increasing year on year. An eco-conscience is fine, but business is business, as Delboy might have said!
BP Energy Review
As will be the case with everything the Biden administration tries to do on climate, the revocation of the Keystone XL permit will be the exaltation of imaginary global climate benefits over real ones to U. S. workers and communities.
This is especially true since Canada is committed to developing the Alberta tar sands. The oil is going to be produced, transported and burned somewhere. The U.S. will just miss out on its benefits.
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NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT 
This demonstrates perfectly the vacuous policies of our own government. All those virtuous net zero targets will make not a jot of difference to global CO2 levels and fossil fuel consumption. Another example of incurring all the costs (or loss of earnings in the Keystone XL case) and zero benefits.
Paul, I hope you are right about this:
“This is especially true since Canada is committed to developing the Alberta tar sands. The oil is going to be produced, transported and burned somewhere. The U.S. will just miss out on its benefits.”
It’s my understanding that Alberta is facing increasing difficulties in exporting its oil and gas. Much of it passes through British Columbia to export terminals on the coast. That government is resisting any expansions or new projects while enjoying the benefits of local supply, the usual hyprocrisy. Rail exports to the east have been disrupted by protestors blocking lines etc.. Meanwhile the national government is happy to take lots of tax revenue but won’t lift a finger to help.
Hopefully other commentators with more knowledge can correct or confirm my sketchy summary.
One ray of hope is rising oil prices. It’s hard to see the US shale industry maintaining output, let alone growing, under Biden. So overall supply may start to fall just as the world begins a post-virus recovery: OPEC will be delighted. Higher prices will make Alberta’s resources more valuable.
Then there is the Nord2 Stream gas pipeline which was finally approved by Trump and is going to be sanctioned by Biden. Thicko for President.
I wonder where you get your information from, Brian. Nordstream is for me a local issue ( I am in Latvia) and I have strong connections to Germany, so I have followed the issue closely. Nordstream has already been subject to sanctions for several years, it should already have been completed but for the various participating companies being forced to cancel their contracts due to US sanctions. German backing was also in doubt for a while after the poisoning of Putin’s rival. The US opposition is bi-partisan, with updated sanctions recently passing with ease through the senate. The US consider the pipeline making Europe more dependent on Russia for supplies, although I do not doubt that there is also a wish that Russia should not benefit when the US could also supply. It is considered that the Ukraine will be deprived of fees for Russian gas passing through in the southern version, and the US wish to support them. I would doubt that as gas supply is from one to the south of Europe, one to the North (Germany). German politics is also involved, they on the one hand wish to be green, on the other are realistic in realising that wind/solar is not going to work without gas to supply the base and flexible load. A good example of how the politics of different countries affects the eventual outcome of energy policy.
This is not about climate change it is about payback to donors. In particular Warren Buffet whose railroad currently carries the extra oil from Canada that would otherwise come through the new pipeline. It is a repeat of Obama’s Green deal that handed out billions to cronies and resulted in more CO2 through the burning of wood and manufacture of wind turbines and solar farms since closed whilst devastating bird and bat life as per Michael Moore’s excellent Planet of the Humans that shows that the Green New Deal will be like Obama’s just another method of transferring wealth from poor to rich whilst degrading the environment
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2015/11/warren_buffett_and_the_keystone_decision.html
To placate the Eco-warriors he will also have to stop LNG exports and coal exports, then stop importing products with a “high carbon footprint”. Once / if sanity is restored, the deep coal mines will be difficult to restart, the open cast coal will remain easy to re-start, but the coal power stations take a long time to re-build.
The USA could drop right down the world-power league (apart from its military and espionage might), they are already being overtaken by China and Russia in this. However, they do have bounteous natural reserves of everything, unlike the UK and the EU.
A perfect example of fantasy-driven ideology versus pragmatic policy making.
Therein lies the single most obvious difference between the loony Left and sensible Right-leaning conservatives.
Biden hasn’t even survived his inauguration yet and has already upset the Canadians on one border, the Mexicans on the other, by encouraging a stampede of South & Central America’s poorest to head north to suckle on the Democrat bosom, and alienated and vilified half of his own population by labelling them all racists and white extremists and promising them fuel poverty and an Inquisition to boot. Good going Joe. And it’s all downhill from there.
Quite a start!
47 years in government and he has never done anything for citizens, other than his friends.
Mack’s comment is succinct and full of truth (amen).
The ‘climate’ doesn’t care!
Welcome to the inauguration of the Democratic Republic of America and its puppet president Dementia Joe. The only way for the DRA is down. Meanwhile, it is probably a National Holiday in China…..
I am am reminded of a certain gangster movie. A robber is shot, and the rest of the gang force a Doctor to take the bullet out of him. The Doctor says: “You must now stay absolutely still, for 48 hours, or the wound will reopen.” The robber slurs “I got things to do” and starts walking out. An accomplice says to the Doctor ‘Ain’t you gonna do something?’ who simply replies “He’s dead – he just hasn’t noticed it !”
Such a waste of resources and how many jobs will be lost? All to satisfy the moral vanity of the Democrats.
And thus the unique commemorative coin for the new leader of the free world:
Thanks, Ron. Duly circulated. The man not worthy of the value – or the honour.
Isn’t he worthy exactly that?
The reverse contains a clear error in the die — the motto for the coin should read “E unum, pluribus”.
Thanks Sean. We didn’t want anyone thinking it is real and try to buy something with it.
Sean, correction: The slogan is “Out of Many, One” E pluribus unum. It is now progressives wanting to make many out of one.
I’m reminded of the interview with an XR activist on R4 Today early last year – or so – banging on about keep it in the ground, zero-emissions, etc, when asked by the interviewer, ‘If I had a magic wand that could make all the problems caused by CO2 disappear would you still be against fossil-fuels and cars?’ – Yes!
To add to the lunacy, Biden has declared he will increase support for the already subsidized Global CCS industry who will have to build hundreds of new CCS facilities and pipelines to transport liquid CO2 under pressure to a variety of geological repositories. A risky process with the net result of burying less than one part-per-million of CO2 by 2050. Almost all of that will have to be accomplished with carbon fuel energy and not solar and wind. A complete waste of time and money with no effect on the Earth’s climate.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimmagill/2020/11/24/bidens-plans-for-carbon-capture-buildout-could-make-headway-in-congress/?sh=e0f7b6f30e9d
Let me think, pipelines, liquid co2 under pressure and lots of resident, re-invigorated eco-sabateurs around. What could possibly go wrong. Boom!
A rose deep-froze,
dropped then stopped,
a bit here,
a bit there,
a bit, everywhere…
Significant research work being done on the problem of transporting lig CO2 under pressure (forgetting the big question of why do it ), Norway being it seems a big player :
https://blog.sintef.com/sintefenergy/ccs/co2-mixture-property-knowledge-needed/
One of the problems to be solved is what is the effect of contamination of the CO2 with N2 and/or O2, which could increase the pressure required to remain a liquid – if i read the abstract correctly.
The Keystone Pipeline had FOUR years of Trump to finish. This is a Keystone cop project, not a pipeline. They will NEVER finish the thing, no matter who is in office. It matters not.
A couple of thoughts. First, discontinuing the pipeline is an outright provocation to the militant Republicans – at this rate the US will be in flames within a month. Secondly, it will hurt Canada, his nearest neighbour. I don’t agree with Paul that China will easily pick up the slack. Tar sand oil needs very special processing and refining and I doubt whether China, in the present oil climate, would commit to the investments needed. Finally, on a brighter note and as I and others have posted previously, Biden’s lunatic approach to greening will bring into public view all the horrific downsides to this madness which, I expect, will be jumped on by the aforesaid militants and the “red wall” voters this side of the Atlantic when they see their costs of living flying skywards – especially so in these times of hardship. Bring it on.
The US media seem to be slightly less controlled by the oligarchy than ours, but will that continue to be the case now?
Not so sure as you jack. Read this:
https://rclutz.wordpress.com/2021/01/17/the-forces-that-flatten-us/
“The internet tycoons used the ideology of flatness to hoover up the value from local businesses, national retailers, the whole newspaper industry, etc.—and no one seemed to care. This heist—by which a small group of people, using the wiring of flatness, could transfer to themselves enormous assets without any political, legal or social pushback—enabled progressive activists and their oligarchic funders to pull off a heist of their own, using the same wiring. They seized on the fact that the entire world was already adapting to a life of practical flatness in order to push their ideology of political flatness—
what they call social justice, but which has historically meant the transfer of enormous amounts of power and wealth to a select few.”
What will the 75,000,000 people who voted for Trump do now? Limit their financial support for the US of A. Biden et al offend the producers. The Democrat Capitol will decide how to give away the producers’ wealth. The wealthy will play along as little as possible.
One wonders by what authority Biden can write an executive order to suspend Keystone. He has no such authority. Maybe he can order EPA to revoke Keystone’s permit. I wait to see if he acts extralegally.
This creates a problem similar to the nuclear energy business. Governments can, by fiat, declare a project stopped. No one will invest a dollar in nuclear generation in the U.S. without 100% government funding backup, as no investment is safe. Biden will be creating a threat to ALL investment. We return to Obama’s stagnant economy.
Likely, with inflation added. Correction: We return to Carter’s economy. Dust off the Misery Index.
Threats to all investments? Just like the ANC ruling party in South Africa. They are insisting on “expropriation without compensation” (EWC) or, in blunter words ‘theft’ of all and any properties, pretending it’s ONLY about under-used farms. Add that to the raiding of the fiscus to fund the “Jim, it’s dead” South African Airways, the loss of jobs and taxes due to the shutdowns and the banning of the booze (because – ‘Covid’), the incapability of the Eskom electricity monopoly to get itself out of bankruptcy, and the on-going general theft of any and all civic cash. (Takes another breath). Anyway, one can’t expect ANY socialist set of rulers (note – not governors) to understand basic economics. And Socialism is what the USA has just let itself be tricked into!
Don’t worry. Trump voters will go through deprogramming camps. Millions of guards and wardens will be needed. This will bring in a new age of unbelievable prosperity.
I was just discussing with a friend, “How do they know we voted for Trump.”
We decided they probably know, though we don’t know how.
“Vee haff our vays.”
Every one seems to be assuming Biden will be in office long enough to enact some of this foolishness. I wonder how long before he is retired and the VP takes over. That should be fun.
That will NOT be any fun. Prior to the election, Kamala Harris made a public declaration (on late night TV with Mr. Colbert) that she is a supporter of BLM looting and burning and said there will be more after the election. She called it a “movement” that will not go away. Talk about inciting a riot?
Should that happen, I expect BidenLOL handlers will handle Kommie Harris, too. They picked her for a reason.
Just had a thought: we still don’t know who programmed Obama’s teleprompter. I wonder if they will be back in power again.
They can use the tunnel for travel now 😂