Keystone XL developer withdraws Nebraska route application

TransCanada has withdrawn its request with the Nebraska government to build its Keystone XL pipeline through the state. 

The company had asked the Nebraska Public Service Commission in October to approve that portion of the 1,200-mile pipeline’s route. 

{mosads}But President Obama’s rejection of the project two weeks ago nixed the plan, at least for now, and “as we carefully consider our options with regards to the project, we have withdrawn our application to the PSC,” TransCanada spokesman Mark Cooper said on Wednesday. 

“We believe it is inappropriate to ask the Commission to continue to move forward on a process that has legally set time lines, while we continue to consider our next course of action,” he said. 

After Obama rejected the project on Nov. 6, TransCanada officials said they were considering the future of the project, and could try to win presidential approval of it again in the future if a Republican takes the office. 

Environmentalists have aggressively opposed Keystone and certainly would so again if the company revived its request after Obama’s presidency. TransCanada also faces legal hurdles in Nebraska, where homeowners have sued over its right to build the project there. 

But the developer said Wednesday that it’s committing to finishing the project.

“Although we are withdrawing the application at this time, we are reserving the right to reapply to the PSC at a later date and remain committed to completing the final leg of the Keystone Pipeline system, that has already safely delivered over a billion barrels of Canadian and US crude oil to the Midwest and Gulf Coast,” Cooper said.