Biden Intends to Rescind Keystone XL Permit

In yet another setback to TC Energy and the building of the Keystone XL pipeline, CBC in Canada was first to report on Jan. 17 confirmation of President-elect Joe Biden's intent to rescind the KXL pipeline permit. Biden campaigned on canceling the Canadian pipeline project, which will run through Valley County, after having opposed it during his time as Vice President under President Barack Obama. Obama punted the controversial political decision to his successor, President Donald Trump, who vociferously supported the pipeline.

Biden was sworn into the office today, Jan. 20, at noon EST. Biden's plans for day one of his presidency apparently involve rescinding the permit via executive action. A briefing memo circulated over the weekend by members of the president-elect's team with U.S. stakeholders in the project, however a separate memo released by chief of staff Ronald Klain did not mention KXL, though Klain explained his memo was not a complete list of actions Biden intends to take. CBC further reported that in a November phone call between Biden and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Canadian leader indicated he desired further discussion around KXL.

The Billings Gazette reported Alberta Premier Jason Kenney expressed deep concern about Biden's intent to rescind TC Energy's permit for KXL. Kenney said, "Doing so would kill jobs on both sides of the border, weaken the critically important Canada-U.S. relationship, and undermine U.S. national security." He further vowed to use all legal avenues in working with TC Energy to protect its interest in the project. Other Canadian leaders expressed differing opinions. Federal Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole urged Trudeau to pursue a course to move KXL forward, while Green Party Leader Annamie Paul was supportive of the incoming U.S. president's decision.

Stateside, progressive groups and leaders are praising Biden's plan. In Montana, Northern Plains released a statement in support of the intended cancellation. Northern Plains, which bills itself as a grassroots conservation and family agriculture group, sent an open letter to President-elect Biden's team from hundreds of Montanans regarding KXL.

"We applaud reports that President-elect Biden will keep his promise to stop Keystone XL, putting the health of our climate above corporate balance sheets," said Dena Huff, of Glendive, Mont., in Northern Plains' Monday press release. "Alongside farmers, ranchers, indigenous communities, and countless others, we have stood strong for over a decade. We have worked to protect not just our air, land, water, and climate, but also the democratic process, tribal rights, and property rights that have been trampled throughout this fight."

Keystone XL has faced a long and varied fight in the decade-plus the project has been in the works, with numerous lawsuits from stakeholders on each side of the pipeline. Construction had been underway on the Canadian side of the border for months, while lawsuits stateside tied up intended construction south of the border.