Quote Originally Posted by freein05 View Post
What I do not understand is why they don't build refineries in South Dakota instead of building a pipe line across 7 or 8 states. The possibility for spills seem large for a pipeline running something like 1000 miles and the cost to maintain it let alone build it can not be less than building new refineries.
As Alan said, they do have a refinery in the works in SD, but you still have to transport the refined fuels to where the users are. Pipelines are a FAR more efficient way of doing that than tanker trucks or train cars and far safer, too. As far as leaks and spills from the pipeline; TransCanada was planning to encase the entire line in concrete through Nebraska. I'm not sure if that was planned for the entire length or just through NE as an olive branch to the opposition.