A letter of support for Keystone pipeline consideration

The announcement that the Keystone XL pipeline’s presidential permit application is being considered again is good news for Phillips County, Montana and the United States.

Trans Canada will become Phillips County’s largest taxpayer by building additional infrastructure in the county. Phillips County and the school district that the pipeline will be located in will benefit from approximately two million dollars annually in additional taxes split between the two entities. The State of Montana will receive a similar amount. Keep in mind that this is only for the pipeline located in Phillips County. Nationwide the projected property taxes paid to counties by Trans Canada for the Keystone XL pipeline will be 55.6 million dollars spread across 27 counties in three states. Approximately sixty six million dollars will be spent on sales and use taxes for the construction of the project.

Additionally the transmission lines and the substation that will be located in Phillips County will help stabilize rural electric rates for Big Flat Electric customers.

Trans Canada has been very supportive of the Phillips County area during the application process. Nine thousand eight hundred dollars has been donated to various Phillips County projects since 2011. Their employees have been very friendly, helpful and professional.

Here’s hoping that construction starts in the near future.

Lesley Robinson

Dodson