North Dakota leaders explain what the Keystone Pipeline means for North Dakota…

The House passed a bill today that authorizes construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.

It will go to the Senate on Tuesday.

Even though the route of the XL wouldn’t go through North Dakota…

Ben Smith looks at what this pipeline could mean for the state.

For 6 years, several lawmakers, including North Dakota’s congressional delegation have pushed for the Keystone XL.

With a bill passing the House Friday, the project is now one step closer to reality.

The Keystone XL Pipeline would narrowly miss North Dakota.

But according to Justin Kringstad with the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, it would help the state as it produces more oil than ever.

“So there is a definite benefit for getting up to 100,000 barrels per day of Bakken crude oil on to that system and then move to some premium markets around the U.S.” says Kringstad

He says construction of the XL could bring thousands of jobs…

But not everyone in North Dakota is as positive about the pipeline’s impact.

Marie Hoff with the Dakota Resource Council says the XL could only bring as few as 100 permanent jobs to the state.

And I think anybody who knows about community building knows that what you want in a community for economic development is people who come and stay and become a stable and a permanent contributing part of the community. she says

She also worries about the pipeline’s effect on the environment.

The proposed route goes through the Ogallala aquifer, which brings water to multiple states.

The capacity for land and water damage is really quite severe.  says Hoff

Hoff admits there is a huge monetary benefit the pipeline can bring to North Dakota.

But she worries at what price… to the state.

Should the Bill pass the Senate on Tuesday, it will go to the President for approval.

We wanted to find out what people around Bismarck think of the Keystone XL Pipeline.

Here’s what a few of you had to say.

“The keystone pipeline would put a lot of people to work, it would increase the pipeline infrastructure, it would lighten up on the rail traffic for oil.” says Mike Massey of Mandan

“I think the environmental impact thing is maybe legitimate but we’ve done other things.  And we’ve had a lot of problems with leaks and all kinds of stuff like that.” says Montie Galt of Bismarck

“I know it’s been a long time coming for a decision to be made so I would just like to see some progression for the issue.  Make a decision and let’s move forward.” says Gena Neumann of Bismarck

“I am very much for it, I think Mr. Obama needs to get off his high horse and get after it, work with Congress a little bit and try to provide for our state.” says Gloria Johnson of Bismarck