Digging into campaign contribution records in Nebraska, reporters have found how the Keystone XL pipeline developer has kicked in more than $65,000 to political campaigns…all in an effort apparently to win final state approval of the controversial project.
The money came from a political action committee for TransCanada Inc. and went mostly to Republican state lawmakers and the Nebraska GOP.
Opponents, such as Jane Kleeb who is president of Bold Alliance contends it was a blatant attempt to buy the influence of politicians.
“There is no question big political donations have bought some politicians,” she told the Associated Press.
On the other hand, her organization has also worked to recruit and also support candidates who oppose the Keystone XL pipeline.
The AP reported that in the past year, TransCanada has given $25,000 to Gov. Pete Ricketts’ re-election campaign, $15,000 to the Nebraska Republican Party and $25,500 to state lawmakers, according to filings with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission.
TransCanada spokesman Matthew John defended the contributions.
“We participate in an open and transparent political process and will continue to support elected officials and public policies that promote the safe and environmentally responsible development of North American energy infrastructure,” he said.
Most of the donations were made last year, before a state regulatory commission narrowly approved the project. The Nebraska Public Service Commission voted 3-2 in favor of the pipeline in November, but its decision is mired in a pending lawsuit before the state Supreme Court and could get returned for a new review. Oral arguments in the case aren’t expected until September at the earliest.
The 1,179-mile pipeline would transport up to 830,000 barrels a day of Canadian crude through Montana and South Dakota to Nebraska, where it would connect with lines to carry oil to Gulf Coast refineries. One of those lines would be the Keystone pipeline that was constructed in Oklahoma and Texas and has carried oil from Cushing southward for the past few years.