President-elect Trump aims to relaunch the Keystone XL oil pipeline project on his first day back in office, according to sources familiar with the plans, even though the original project has long been abandoned.
Trump sees reviving the 1,200-mile Canada-to-Nebraska pipeline as a way to reinforce his pro-oil message and challenge Biden’s reversal of the project, which was widely celebrated by climate activists.
“It’s on the list of things they want to do on day one,” said one insider, who spoke anonymously due to unauthorized disclosure restrictions.
The pipeline permit was initially denied by Obama in 2015. Trump approved it in 2017, only for Biden to revoke it in 2021. This prompted TC Energy, the Canadian developer, to abandon the project and remove already-installed segments of the pipeline. Rebuilding it would now require obtaining new permits and acquiring land, especially in Nebraska.
Despite the logistical hurdles, Trump’s transition team is exploring ways to advance the plan. A source close to the team emphasized its symbolic value: “Everyone in the country knows what the KXL pipeline is—it represents energy, infrastructure, and construction.”
