MADISON, S.D. -- The Keystone Pipeline, which cuts through eastern North Dakota and South Dakota, is close to completion and will start delivering crude oil from Canada in the next few months.
The pipeline is more than 2,000 miles long. TransCanada Corp., the pipeline's owner, expects it to move more than 400,000 gallons of oil a day initially and perhaps as much as 600,000 gallons a day within a year.
There are many challenges with acquiring rights of way, construction and financing to build such a pipeline. But in the bigger picture, we think bringing oil from Canada and Alaska will be critical steps to help the United States free itself from its dependence on oil from the Middle East.
Just like building transmission lines to transport electricity from wind farms, the distribution system for transporting oil is almost as important as discovering the source. Efficient pipelines also help keep total costs down.
Another pipeline, known as Keystone XL, would cut through Montana and western South Dakota. It would start from roughly the same place in Canada and end up in Texas near the Gulf of Mexico, and start delivering oil in 2012.
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That pipeline also faces challenges, including an anticipated protest by Greenpeace, an environmental group.
We're also concerned about environmental impacts, but think that proper safeguards can minimize the impact and ensure safety.
Ultimately, we think these successful pipelines will contribute to national security by delivering crude oil from friendly sources and helping our country become more independent.
