Trains Playing Major Role in Plains Oil Boom
Associated Press - Sat 08:42 AM 12/29/2012
Energy companies behind the oil boom sweeping the Northern Plains increasingly are turning to trains to move their crude across the U.S.
Energy companies behind the oil boom sweeping the Northern Plains increasingly are turning to trains to move their crude across the U.S. The move comes as plans for the Keystone XL pipeline to Texas stall and existing pipelines in hubs like Cushing, Oklahoma can't keep up with demand.
Delivering oil by rail to refineries thousands of miles away on the East, West and Gulf coasts costs more. But it can bring increased profits - of $10 or more a barrel, and boost the earnings of railroads like North Texas-based Burlington Northern Santa Fe. BNSF is owned by Omaha, Nebraska-based Berkshire Hathaway.
It also means a steady parade of trains carrying the hazardous material rumbling out of North Dakota and Montana and across the country.
Experts and federal regulators say rail transport is less safe than pipelines. That's raised concerns the proliferation of oil trains could Companies say they are making track upgrades and other improvements.
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troy
Saturday 29 December 2012 17:48 Report this comment
There's gonna be a major derailment, oil everywhere, maybe even a fire. The oil is gonna spill into a stream, then into the aquifer, waterfowl will die, maybe even some small rodents. Puppies and kittens will be hurt. Crops will suffer due to lack of irrigation, what about the prairie chickens! My God!, who will save the prairie chickens? Seems to me the pipeline would have been much safer.
troy
Saturday 29 December 2012 17:56 Report this comment
If the oil gets into the aquifer, how will they irrigate the corn. With no corn how will me make ethanol? With so much corn already going to make ethanol, a corn shortage would spell doom for the dairies and hog farmers. High fructose corn syrup! How could we make dinner without that good stuff? When we go over the fiscal cliff milk will rise to $6.00 a gallon due to the loss of farm subsidies, yes, the farm bill is part of this problem. Factor in a corn shortage from an oil train wreck......OMG! For the love of God, will someone please start drilling for oil in the ANWR and get started on the Keystone Pipeline. Life as we know it hangs in the balance.
beaglebabe
Sunday 30 December 2012 21:39 Report this comment
Obama's payback for Warren Buffet ...