This is a short post to speak to the supporters of the Keystone XL Pipeline. Why do you support it? If you support it because we need more North American oil so that we're not dependent on the Middle East, then did you stop to wonder why the pipeline runs all the way to Port Arthur, Texas? There are many refineries closer to Canada. There are thousands of miles of pipelines. Why is a Canadian company willing to spend millions on the thousands of miles of pipeline to move this bitumen across the continental United States?
Port Arthur is, as the name suggests, a port. It allows the oil to be exported. Drill baby drill and ship it to China! Also, as an enterprise zone, Port Arthur has tax advantages. So, If you support Keystone XL, you support allowing a Canadian company to take advantage of US tax law to evade taxes and ship the oil to China.