Rhoades—the lone commissioner to comment prior to the vote—said she would vote no for several reasons, including dangers to the environment. She also said many landowners along the alternative route have never been notified by the state.
TransCanada has long opposed any talk of rerouting the pipeline away from the company's preferred route near the Sandhills. Today's ruling left the company up in the air.
"We will conduct a careful review of the Public Service Commission's ruling while assessing how the decision would impact the cost and schedule of the project," said Russ Girling, TransCanada's president and chief executive officer.
Pipeline opponents were hoping the PSC would shoot the project down or at least move it 60 miles to the east, sitting it alongside the existing Keystone pipeline. Today pipeline opponents complained the PSC ruling still left 40 percent of the pipeline in environmentally sensitive areas. Today Keystone opponent Jane Kleeb said, "Keystone XL will never be built."
Just last week the sister pipeline spilled 210,000 gallons of oil (see video above).
Opponents have long claimed that the pipeline is an environmental danger and that TransCanada—a foreign company— should not be allowed to use eminent domain to secure certain land for the pipeline.
TransCanada says its preferred route is the safest route.
Earlier Kleeb told News Channel Nebraska that "twinning" the pipeline alongside the existing Keystone line would find her side taking civil disobedience—such as lying down in front of bulldozers— during construction off the table. Following the vote KIeeb said, "We must protect the Sandhills and Ogallala Aquifer from a risky export pipeline and eminent domain abuse."
Both sides have promised that if they didn't get what they wanted they'd appeal all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
This is a developing story stay with News Channel Nebraska for continuing coverage.
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Omaha, NE.—The State of Nebraska has OK'd the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, with a major twist that appears to leave both those for and against the project less than thrilled.
By a vote of 3-2 the 5-member Public Service Commission today ruled in favor of TransCanada's $8 billion project, but also ruled the pipeline must be placed along the so-called "Mainline Alternative Route" (see map below) which was not the company's first choice.
Voting in favor of the move were Commissioners Tim Schram, Rod Johnson and Frank Landis. Commissioners Crystal Rhoades and Mary Ridder voted no.
Rhoades—the lone commissioner to comment prior to the vote—said she would vote no for several reasons, including dangers to the environment. She also said many landowners along the alternative route have never been notified by the state.
TransCanada has long opposed any talk of rerouting the pipeline away from the company's preferred route near the Sandhills. Today's ruling left the company up in the air.
"We will conduct a careful review of the Public Service Commission's ruling while assessing how the decision would impact the cost and schedule of the project," said Russ Girling, TransCanada's president and chief executive officer.
Pipeline opponents were hoping the PSC would shoot the project down or at least move it 60 miles to the east, sitting it alongside the existing Keystone pipeline. Today pipeline opponents complained the PSC ruling still left 40 percent of the pipeline in environmentally sensitive areas. Today Keystone opponent Jane Kleeb said, "Keystone XL will never be built."
Just last week the sister pipeline spilled 210,000 gallons of oil (see video above).
Opponents have long claimed that the pipeline is an environmental danger and that TransCanada—a foreign company— should not be allowed to use eminent domain to secure certain land for the pipeline.
TransCanada says its preferred route is the safest route.
Earlier Kleeb told News Channel Nebraska that "twinning" the pipeline alongside the existing Keystone line would find her side taking civil disobedience—such as lying down in front of bulldozers— during construction off the table. Following the vote KIeeb said, "We must protect the Sandhills and Ogallala Aquifer from a risky export pipeline and eminent domain abuse."
Both sides have promised that if they didn't get what they wanted they'd appeal all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
This is a developing story stay with News Channel Nebraska for continuing coverage.
Follow Joe on Twitter and Facebook
Joe can be heard Tuesday’s 7:10 a.m. KLIN Lincoln; Wednesday’s 8 a.m. KUTT Fairbury ; Thursday’s 7-8 a.m. US92 and 8-9 a.m. KNEN Norfolk and 8:55 a.m KBIE 103.1 Nebraska City.
Rhoades—the lone commissioner to comment prior to the vote—said she would vote no for several reasons, including dangers to the environment. She also said many landowners along the alternative route have never been notified by the state.
TransCanada has long opposed any talk of rerouting the pipeline away from the company's preferred route near the Sandhills. Today's ruling left the company up in the air.
"We will conduct a careful review of the Public Service Commission's ruling while assessing how the decision would impact the cost and schedule of the project," said Russ Girling, TransCanada's president and chief executive officer.
Pipeline opponents were hoping the PSC would shoot the project down or at least move it 60 miles to the east, sitting it alongside the existing Keystone pipeline. Today pipeline opponents complained the PSC ruling still left 40 percent of the pipeline in environmentally sensitive areas. Today Keystone opponent Jane Kleeb said, "Keystone XL will never be built."
Just last week the sister pipeline spilled 210,000 gallons of oil (see video above).
Opponents have long claimed that the pipeline is an environmental danger and that TransCanada—a foreign company— should not be allowed to use eminent domain to secure certain land for the pipeline.
TransCanada says its preferred route is the safest route.
Earlier Kleeb told News Channel Nebraska that "twinning" the pipeline alongside the existing Keystone line would find her side taking civil disobedience—such as lying down in front of bulldozers— during construction off the table. Following the vote KIeeb said, "We must protect the Sandhills and Ogallala Aquifer from a risky export pipeline and eminent domain abuse."
Both sides have promised that if they didn't get what they wanted they'd appeal all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
This is a developing story stay with News Channel Nebraska for continuing coverage.
Follow Joe on Twitter and Facebook
Joe can be heard Tuesday’s 7:10 a.m. KLIN Lincoln; Wednesday’s 8 a.m. KUTT Fairbury ; Thursday’s 7-8 a.m. US92 and 8-9 a.m. KNEN Norfolk and 8:55 a.m KBIE 103.1 Nebraska City.
