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Montana politics, elections and legislative news

Tester, Daines Join Senate In Passing Keystone Pipeline Bill

Pipes for Keystone XL Pipeline.
shannonpatrick17 (CC-BY-2.0)

Both of Montana’s Senators voted today for the bill to build the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

Democrat Jon Tester says he looks forward to the day when clean, renewable resources provide most of America's energy needs:

"But until we get to a point when that's affordable and available, it appears to me that I'd rather do business with Canada than I would the Middle East."

Tester says the recent Bridger Pipeline oil spill on the Yellowstone River was not only a catastrophe, but entirely preventable.

That's why he says he voted to expand the budget of the agency responsible for pipeline inspections.

"But also know this - if it's put on rails it's very dangerous. If it's put on the road via trucks it's very dangerous. I think putting it through a pipe is the least dangerous of all of it, but it still needs to be done right."

Keystone XL opponents say tar sands oil is a particularly dirty energy source and will contribute to global warming.

President Obama has vowed to veto the project.

Edward O’Brien first landed at Montana Public Radio three decades ago as a news intern while attending the UM School of Journalism. He covers a wide range of stories from around the state.
edward.obrien@umt.edu.  
(406) 243-4065
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