February 2015, Vol. 70, No. 2
Newsline
Nebraska Court Removes Hurdle To Route Keystone XL Pipeline
On Jan. 9, the Nebraska Supreme Court reversed a lower court’s 2012 ruling that deemed a law granting Gov. Dave Heineman’s authority to approve the Keystone XL pipeline in violation of the Nebraska constitution.
This ruling effectively approves TransCanada’s pipeline route through Nebraska. However, TransCanada’s permit in South Dakota has expired, and the Public Utility Commission there is reviewing its application.
Last February, Lancaster County Judge Stephanie Stacy struck down the governor’s approval of the pipeline route, saying that jurisdiction over such a decision belongs to the pertinent state regulator, the Nebraska Public Service Commission or PSC. Heineman filed an appeal, however, and the state’s Supreme Court said that the governor had, in fact, acted within his authority.
Comments