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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| US Senate narrowly fails to pass Keystone XL pipeline bill | US Senate narrowly fails to pass Keystone XL pipeline bill |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The US Senate has narrowly failed to pass a bill approving the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline. | The US Senate has narrowly failed to pass a bill approving the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline. |
| The Senate voted by 59-41 in favour of the bill, but this was one vote short of the 60 needed to pass it. | The Senate voted by 59-41 in favour of the bill, but this was one vote short of the 60 needed to pass it. |
| The 1,179-mile (1,897km) pipeline would carry tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada, to the US state of Nebraska where it joins pipes running to Texas. | The 1,179-mile (1,897km) pipeline would carry tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada, to the US state of Nebraska where it joins pipes running to Texas. |
| Republicans have vowed to approve the bill next year when the new Congress convenes. | Republicans have vowed to approve the bill next year when the new Congress convenes. |
| The current Senate is controlled by the Democratic Party, but Republicans will control the next Senate, following gains in elections earlier this month. | |
| President Barack Obama is said to take a "dim view" of the legislation, but has not directly threatened a veto in the event of the bill reaching the White House. | President Barack Obama is said to take a "dim view" of the legislation, but has not directly threatened a veto in the event of the bill reaching the White House. |
| The pipeline project has pitted Republicans and other supporters - who say it will create much-needed jobs - against many Democrats and environmentalists who warn the pipeline will add to carbon emissions and contribute to global warming. | The pipeline project has pitted Republicans and other supporters - who say it will create much-needed jobs - against many Democrats and environmentalists who warn the pipeline will add to carbon emissions and contribute to global warming. |
| Republicans maintained their majority in the House and gained control of the US Senate during mid-term elections on 4 November. But the official start of the new Congress is not until early January. | Republicans maintained their majority in the House and gained control of the US Senate during mid-term elections on 4 November. But the official start of the new Congress is not until early January. |
| The bill failed to pass despite all 45 current Republican senators as well as 14 Democrats voting in favour. | The bill failed to pass despite all 45 current Republican senators as well as 14 Democrats voting in favour. |
| The Keystone extension | The Keystone extension |
| The proposed XL pipeline has the same origin and destination as an operational pipe, also called Keystone but takes a more direct route and has a wider diameter. | The proposed XL pipeline has the same origin and destination as an operational pipe, also called Keystone but takes a more direct route and has a wider diameter. |
| It would daily carry 830,000 barrels of mostly Canadian-produced oil from the oil sands in Alberta, Canada, to refineries in Steele City, Nebraska and then on to the Texas coast for export. | It would daily carry 830,000 barrels of mostly Canadian-produced oil from the oil sands in Alberta, Canada, to refineries in Steele City, Nebraska and then on to the Texas coast for export. |
| The southern section to the Gulf opened in January 2014. | The southern section to the Gulf opened in January 2014. |
| It is a privately financed project, with the cost of construction shared between TransCanada, an energy company based in Calgary, Alberta, and other oil shippers. | It is a privately financed project, with the cost of construction shared between TransCanada, an energy company based in Calgary, Alberta, and other oil shippers. |
| Why is the Keystone XL pipeline so disputed? | Why is the Keystone XL pipeline so disputed? |
| A state department report raised no major environmental objections in February, but the final recommendation was delayed amid a court battle over the project in Nebraska. | A state department report raised no major environmental objections in February, but the final recommendation was delayed amid a court battle over the project in Nebraska. |
| The state department is involved because the pipeline would cross an international border. | The state department is involved because the pipeline would cross an international border. |
| The Keystone XL pipeline aims to carry some 830,000 barrels of heavy crude a day from the fields in Alberta to Nebraska. | The Keystone XL pipeline aims to carry some 830,000 barrels of heavy crude a day from the fields in Alberta to Nebraska. |
| The oil would then be transported on existing pipes to refineries in Texas. The southern section of the project was finished last year. | The oil would then be transported on existing pipes to refineries in Texas. The southern section of the project was finished last year. |
| The bill passed easily in the House last week with a 252-161 vote, but it was not the first time the chamber had voted to approve the project. | The bill passed easily in the House last week with a 252-161 vote, but it was not the first time the chamber had voted to approve the project. |
| The bill's sponsor, Louisiana Representative Bill Cassidy, is facing a run-off election against incumbent Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu for her seat. | The bill's sponsor, Louisiana Representative Bill Cassidy, is facing a run-off election against incumbent Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu for her seat. |
| Ms Landrieu - among the pipeline's Democratic supporters - successfully pushed the Senate to hold the vote on the measure on Tuesday and urged backing for the measure. | Ms Landrieu - among the pipeline's Democratic supporters - successfully pushed the Senate to hold the vote on the measure on Tuesday and urged backing for the measure. |