Keystone XL Fight Begins in Nebraska

Critics of TransCanada Corp.’s proposed Keystone XL pipeline are getting their chance this week to grill developers as they go before the Nebraska Public Service Commission.

An evidentiary hearing on the pipeline is underway and already there have been sharp and pointed exchanges between witnesses and attorneys for those fighting the pipeline.

As E & E reported, TransCanada spent an eleven-hour day on Monday being cross-examined on environmental and economic arguments about the 270-mile pipeline.

TransCanada needs only the approval of the Nebraska commission to go ahead with construction.

The start of the state hearing came after a weekend rally by opponents. An estimated 600 attended the event in Lincoln. It was sponsored by Bold Nebraska, 350.org, the Indigenous Environmental Network and others. Marchers came from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota and Wisconsin.