US House of Representatives passes Keystone XL pipeline bill

The US House of Representatives has passed a bill to approve the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline.

The legislation will now be put to a vote in the Senate next week, where its prospects are unclear. The legislation would circumvent the need for approval of TransCanada Corp's S$ 8 billion project by the Obama administration, which has been pending for more than six years.

It was not yet clear if Obama would use his veto, but he has threatened to veto Keystone legislation in the past.

The 875 mile (1408 km) pipeline would carry oilsands from Alberta, Canada, to the US state of Nebraska where it joins pipes running to Texas.

What happens next

The Senate could take up the bill next week, possibly on Tuesday. Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Mary Landrieu, a Louisiana Democrat, led the effort to approve the bill in the Senate, but it appeared on Thursday that she did not yet have enough votes to be sure of passage.

The abrupt move to vote on the pipeline follows midterm elections that were disastrous for Democrats. Republicans maintained control of the House and will take over the majority in the Senate when the new Congress convenes in early 2015.

Edited from various sources by Elizabeth Corner

Sources: Reuters, BBC

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