Last week, Republican leaders in the House of Representatives voted on a bill to force President Obama to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline. The pipeline would run 1,700 miles from Alberta, Canada, to the Gulf Coast of Texas.

I voted “No.”

Proponents argue that this new pipeline will move us closer to energy independence, but they fail to recognize reality. The United States already is producing more oil domestically and gas prices are near lows not seen in years.  Much of the oil that would run through this new pipeline will be sold internationally, not here in the United States. 

Additionally, this latest effort exempts any company that produces, ships or refines tar sands oil from paying into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, even though conventional crude oil companies are required to pay into the trust fund to help the federal government respond to oil spills. Cleanup from a 2010 tar sands oil spill in Michigan is estimated to cost more than $1 billion.

Finally, the economic benefits of this pipeline do not add up. While there will be some temporary construction jobs, the number of permanent jobs is estimated to be approximately 35. 

The negligible economic benefit does not justify the environmental risk.

I hope Congress can, instead, work to make our nation greener and more energy efficient.

REP. ROBERT C. “BOBBY” SCOTT

Newport News

Rep. Scott’s district includes Petersburg, Portsmouth and the counties of Charles City and Surry, and parts of Richmond, Newport News, Hampton and Norfolk and the counties of Henrico and Prince George.