Trump Will Resuscitate the Keystone XL Pipeline if Elected President
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said over the weekend that he would “100 per cent” approve the contentious Keystone XL pipeline previously rejected by President Barack Obama, but he wants “a better deal” for the U.S.
The "deal" in Trump's view would be a "significant piece of the profits, because we are making it happen." These profits, in turn, would be used to compensate private land owners whose property would be seized through eminent domain, the compulsory purchase of private property for public use. “If you read the documents on the Keystone pipeline," Trump said, "the whole big section is dedicated to eminent domain. Because without eminent domain, that pipeline wouldn’t go 10 feet – you understand that.”
Trump's condition was immediately rejected by TransCanada, Keystone XL's principal supporter. James Millar, TransCanada spokesman, said that’s not the way these projects are usually structured, and the company would expect any United States leader to abide by that. “The role of the U.S. government in such transactions is that of a regulator - ensuring various laws and regulations are followed - and granting appropriate permits. We would expect to continue to follow this model that has been in place for decades.”