Rachele Liba Professor Whitehead POSC 100 22 July 2016 Placing a Price on a Green Nation Having lived a nomadic lifestyle across the United States, I have had the opportunity to witness the wonders of our flourishing society and the everyday turmoils that we face. Rigorous innovation has helped Americans fulfill countless dreams, however with every gift there is a usually a price-tag or opportunity cost. Now in the midst of the general presidential election, platforms that represent our beliefs can undergo much needed reform to address the opportunity costs that were surpassed in the process of success. Among the various problems found in our society, a key movement that has raised necessary controversy has to do with environmental policy. …show more content…
While Hillary Clinton’s proposal would be a huge step forward in modernizing America’s energy infrastructure, her refusal to acknowledge a carbon tax is unsettling if one references her background and affiliations as Secretary of State. One of the most controversial issues posed by Hillary Clinton is the Keystone XL scandal. Keystone XL pipeline project is the extension of TransCanada 's Keystone pipeline, that would have transported 830,000 barrels of dirty oil from Canada to refineries in Texas. The project sparked enormous environmental controversy due to various factors. Citizens who live in the path of the pipeline are experiencing eminent domain lawsuits being brought against them where TransCanada is forcefully confiscating land from homeowner and farmers. The environmental argument is coming from a clash over the fact they are basically stripping the canadian boreal forest, the path of the pipeline extends across major aquifers, and pipelines tend to leak and destroy surrounding environments. In addition ccording to The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions State, “epartment’s draft SEIS found that oil from the Canadian oil sands is 17 percent more carbon-intensive than the average oil consumed in the United States... It is estimated that the U.S. greenhouse gas footprint would increase by 3 million to 21 million metric tons per year, or around 0.04 percent to 0.3 percent of the 2010 levels, if Keystone is built. Fortunately on November 6, 2015, President Barack Obama’s administration rejected the Keystone Pipeline XL after 7 years of dispute. As mentioned in the Wall Street Journal, Obama stated “the project would not have lowered gas prices, improved energy security or made a meaningful long-term contribution to the economy
For my research paper this fall I will be talking about Senator Jon Tester's voting habits on the Keystone XL Pipeline. The Keystone XL Pipeline was a bill passed by the Senate by a vote of 62 to 36. This bill would allow the oil to be ship from Alberta to Illinois and then to Texas to be refined and sold. Jon Tester was one of the sixty-two members who supported the Keystone Pipeline because of its benefit on Montana's jobs and economy. However, Jon Tester has also spoken about how Montana and the United States needs to work towards cleaner energy alternatives.
The Keystone XL Pipeline Annotated Bibliography Biello, David. “Green Goo.” Scientific American. Jul. 2013. Vol.
Over the past years Native Americans had cared for their own sacred lands, the story and religion that their primogenitors had taught them. The Native Americans had still carried the strong belief, that their land shall stay the same as if it should've been until new people had come in from elsewhere to change the land to something we all see outside till this day. However, there is a new project “The Dakota Access Pipeline” that had crossed the line of Native American trust between the new people that had changed everything the Natives had had since their ancestors were still living. No matter what effect the pipeline puts on most people there are some positive causes that can change a person such as protesters to think positive towards the pipeline being built on Indian reservation land. Even if the pipeline can cause many people to have a thought that the pipeline should not be built, only if they can hear from both sides, they can have a second thought and allow the pipeline to be built.
Attorney General, I am writing on the behalf of the Sioux Nation's stand against the pipeline that threatens their land, water, health, and future. Although their stand is a way to advocate for their rights laid out int the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Man (1948) and should be supported, the primary reason I write are as follows: 1)Pipeline action violate the 1868 treaty that the U.S. has made with the Sioux Nation 2) Militarized tactics (rubber bullets, etc.) used against the nation's people for standing for looking after their health and the ecology of the land is attrocious. 3) There is a comonent of the above said actions that seem to violate the Sioux peoples' Freedom of Religion. I am extremely concerned
Some individuals believe that using the wilderness for drilling of oil purposes will solve the US and its dependency on foreign oil. Through this article, Democratic congressman Edward J. Markey, alongside Representative Nancy Johnson, discuss the reasons for which they want to save the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, or the ANWR, and other wilderness reserves from being developed on and industrialized. This wildlife reserve has been labeled as being one of the most magnificent reserves found in America. Unfortunately, people want to encroach on this territory and use it to increase the nation’s oil and gas development. This is not the first time that the reserve has been threatened but it is the most extreme.
Brief Background and Aims of the Thesis The term “Green New Deal” has been used by a number of policy documents created in response the global financial crisis and economic recession since 2007/2008. This title openly draws upon Franklin Roosevelt's "New Deal,” put in place to fight against the economic and social effects of the Great Depression of the 1930s in the United States. However, as the name also indicates, the intention of the modern Green New Deals is to respond not only to the social and economic troubles ignited by the global financial crisis but also increasingly evident contemporary environmental, resource, food, and energy-related problems.
With the increased scale of fracking in Texas, one might wonder if the oil boom is affecting our water supply. The value of water in Texas is deeply cherished considering Texas’s dry climate and long-standing droughts. One may even wonder if Texas is valuing its water as much as it is its oil. As research furthers, we can begin to weigh the positive and negative effects of oil fracking. By providing overwhelming data on oil fracking
“Benefits of Governmental Compromise Regarding the Dakota Access Pipeline” Nations all have unique governments and differences necessary for demonstrating successful leadership. Every country needs different assistance from their leadership, such as Rio requiring infrastructure or Somalia lacking political power. Some governments concern themselves with their politicians’ well-being more so than the people they lead, which creates a relevant problem in America. The United States Government can easily forget about Native American Reservations, or even ignore the people living on them. Recently, the United States Army Corps of Engineers has worked on the Dakota Access Pipeline project, which would cross over Native American ancestral lands,
Their arguments based on the economic needs of the Americans are driven by their political ambitions rather than a radical position on important political and leadership matters. As the Republicans seem to be more radical about addressing the economic needs of the people today, they will be forced to apply the same level of aggression in addressing climate change concerns. Putting a price on carbon emissions, the preferred prescription of economists across the political spectrum, could fit well within the Republican canon (Porter). It may cost the United States today, however, it will help to create a long-term economy that guarantees productivity for the current and future generations. In light of this internal party division and indecisiveness over the issue, it is important to put political ambitions and interests for the greater good of the country and the citizens of that country today and in the future.
Controversy Surrounding the Keystone XL Pipeline To build or not to build, this choice will impact the relationship between the US and Canada and determine the level of dependence the US will have on countries that are not so friendly. “TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL Pipeline would transport oil sands crude from Canada and shale oil produced in North Dakota and Montana to a market hub in Nebraska for delivery to Gulf Coast refineries. The pipeline would consist of 875 miles of 36-inch pipe with the capacity to transport 830,000 barrels per day” (Parfomak, Pirog, Luther and Vann 4). The construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline would strengthen the United States economy, provide energy security and have minimal environmental impact. “The Keystone XL project would create $1.1 trillion in private capital investment at no
President Lyndon B. Johnson once said, “The Great Society rests on abundance and liberty for all,” in his speech that changed American’s views on society and the outcomes that can occur (“Great Society”).With the death of President Kennedy in November of 1963, it was Johnson’s duty to follow the path of Kennedy’s vision of making America and its future great for everyone. President Johnson named his vision and passion for the future of America that he strived to lead the Great Society(“Great Society”). Johnson’s speech on May 22, 1964 was played out for America and its people to educate the importance to supply our society with wealth, wisdom, and experience to successfully build a country where the struggled labor becomes a value for the
TAPS transports 17% of the United State’s domestic petroleum. If the pipeline were to stop, “A loss of that production would increase prices by at least 10 to 16 percent” (Balan). This is very important, as the majority of the American population is in constant need of these resources. A shift this dramatic in the economy would lead to outrage and possible changes in economic inflation. All in all, the Trans Alaska pipeline has provided for a great number of people and has not failed to let them down.
1. TransCanada TransCanada is one of the largest company in the field of energy in North America (TransCanada, 2016). They own and operate many energy pipelines in Canada and U.S. They are the main promoters of Keystone XL pipeline (“Osborne, 2015).
“A network of petroleum product pipelines connects Nebraska markets to refining centers in nearby states. Crude oil moves via pipeline through southern Nebraska on its way from Wyoming to refineries in the Midwest.” (U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2016) There has been much debate regarding a proposed crude oil pipeline that would be routed through the Sand Hills of north-central and northwestern Nebraska, known as the Keystone XL pipeline. This pipeline would run from Canada to Texas, but has been a major source of debate between those in favor of this new source of petroleum and environmentalist that think the pipeline would be detrimental to the local environment.
Review of Literature Environmental issues began to be discussed and debated only towards the end of the 20th century. Since then significant amount of literature has been penned down raising awareness about issues of pollution, deforestation, animal rights and several others however it has failed to result in major changes, ideas or even actions to save the environment. Several species of animals have become extinct; pollution level is at an all-time high, global warming is leading to severe climate changes all across the globe but these problems do not seem to alarm the decision makers. Leydier & Martin (2013) also states that, “despite the increasing expression of concern in political and media debates about issues such as climate change, pollution and threats to biodiversity, “political ecology” (operating at the confluence of scientific developments, political engagement and ethical debates) is still trying to find its bearings” (p.7). It is quite evident that environmental issues are not treated in equivalence to political, economic, social or even religious issues.