http://www.bluevirginia.us/diary/12134/earth-to-barbara-comstock-keystone-pipeline-will-create-zero-jobs-in-virginia
Cheers,
Scott.
*According to an independent study by researchers at Cornell University, not only is TransCanada's "claim that KXL will create 20,000 direct construction and manufacturing jobs in the U.S...not substantiated," to the contrary the "project will create no more than 2,500-4,650 temporary direct construction jobs for two years, according to TransCanada's own data supplied to the State Department."
*According to that same study: "KXL will divert Tar Sands oil now supplying Midwest refineries, so it can be sold at higher prices to the Gulf Coast and export markets. As a result, consumers in the Midwest could be paying 10 to 20 cents more per gallon for gasoline and diesel fuel. These additional costs (estimated to total $2-4 billion) will suppress other spending and will therefore cost jobs." That's right: "Put simply, KXL's job creation potential is relatively small, and could be completely outweighed by the project's potential to destroy jobs through rising fuel costs, spill damage and clean up operations, air pollution and increased GHG emissions."
*Regardless, none of those jobs will be located in Virginia, let alone the 10th CD of Virginia, which Comstock hopes to (mis)represent in Congress.
*According to another independent study of Keystone XL, this time by econometrics firm REMI ("Regional Economic Models, Inc"), "No research that we have identified can substantiate" claims that Keystone will create tens of thousands of jobs.
*Also, there's no evidence that any jobs will be created in states outside the path of the pipeline, which is not anywhere close to Virginia. As a commenter on another Virginia blog put it, "the pipeline isn't in Virginia, won't employ Virginians, won't serve Virginia, and has nothing to do with Virginia." That pretty much sums it up.
*Finally, it's important to remind the Barbara Comstocks of the world that the oil passing through Keystone XL is Canadian, and that most of it would "likely be exported as refined products by U.S. companies" to places like China.
*Finally, it's also important to remind everyone who the investors in the Canadian tar sands include: the Koch brothers and China.
Cheers,
Scott.