ALJAZEERA: A Nebraska judge on Wednesday struck down a law that allowed the Keystone XL pipeline to proceed through the state, a victory for opponents who have tried to block the project to carry oil from Canada to Texas refineries. The Keystone pipeline has been a hot-button issue for the last several years, pitting environmentalists against business groups and conservatives.
Lancaster County Judge Stephanie Stacy issued the ruling that invalidated Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman’s approval of the route.
Stacy agreed with opponents’ arguments that a law passed in 2011 improperly delegated the decision-making power to Heineman to give TransCanada, the Calgary-based developer of the pipeline, eminent domain powers within the state. Stacy said the decision should have been made by the Nebraska Public Service Commission, which regulates pipelines and other utilities… (more)
