"Nebraska Lite" -- February 13, 2016

On January 30, 2016, I wrote:

The Dickinson Press is reporting:

Phillips 66 may consider increasing its 25 percent stake in Energy Transfer Partners' pipeline project to move North Dakota Bakken oil to Illinois and Texas, but likes its current commitment as is, President Tim Taylor told analysts on Friday.

This was my last entry regarding this pipeline:

January 20, 2016: North Dakota approves Dakota Access Pipeline; only Iowa is yet to approve; company expects Iowa to approve "next month." I'll believe it when I see it.

This week from The Des Moines Register:

The Iowa Utilities Board concluded its fourth day of deliberations Thursday without reaching a decision on a request for a state permit to construct the Bakken pipeline, which would transport North Dakota crude oil through 18 Iowa counties en route to an Illinois distribution hub.

Chairwoman Geri Huser said deliberations will resume Feb. 19, and the board has reserved March 9 and March 10 for additional meetings if necessary.

The three-member state panel appeared to struggle at times this week as it weighed evidence in what a board lawyer described as a first-time regulatory case.

One can see the writing on the wall: "Nebraska Lite." Each day deliberations are delayed, it provides additional time for opposition to mount its forces. It really won't matter if the IUB grants the request. That decision will end up in court. 

The good news: the pipeline is not needed. Plenty of existing pipeline and plenty of rail. And if push comes to shove, simply truck/CBR the oil across the state of Iowa. I'm sure it wouldn't cost that much to put in a pipeline-to-CBR-transloading terminal near Sioux Falls, SD.

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ObamaCare Again Not Mentioned

CNN Money reports:

Workers at the Carrier manufacturing plant in Indianapolis were caught on video booing and jeering after being told that the plant would be relocated to Monterrey, Mexico. A YouTube video showed Chris Nelson, the company's president, delivering the news on Wednesday. The plant employs roughly 1,400 people.

At least ObamaCare helps people forget about NAFTA. This is the first year (2016) that the entirety of ObamaCare is finally in play; all delays, deferrals, waivers (with some exceptions, I suppose) have come to an end. Unfortunately even if Congress were to "end" ObamaCare (and it won'), the country will never get these jobs back that have gone south of the border.