The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission should approve the Dakota Access Pipeline because it will provide additional energy supplies that originate in this region, and pipelines are a safe way to transport many products. A truth that is nearly self-evident.
Do you ever think about the water you use for your meals, showers and toilets; or the gas that provides heat or the gasoline for your vehicles? Honestly, if you said yes, that’s a bit odd. Thankfully, those things can be taken for granted, but if we do give them some thought; they have one thing in common … pipelines.
All of these things are delivered via pipelines, safely and virtually without incident. The only time the public thinks of pipelines is when there is a new one being proposed or on the rare occasion when one gets damaged or malfunctions, in which case it is in the news for a short time while it gets cleaned up and repaired.
The PUC is currently reviewing the proposed Dakota Access Pipeline that will deliver crude oil from North Dakota to the Chicago area, where it will join existing pipelines and go to various refineries.
There is much support for this pipeline from unions whose members will do the construction and the business community; including the S.D. Chamber of Commerce and Industry that understands there will be short-term economic gains from the construction and long-term energy supply and security gains from using oil that is not imported.
