Written By: Will Lewis 

Pipelines are transporting controversy through America, and are quickly becoming yet another partisan issue in both local and national politics.

TransCanada has dominated the news for the past year with the growing conflict over the company’s proposed Keystone-XL pipeline. A proposed pipeline route that would carry, if constructed, oil from the Canadian Athabasca Oil Sands region in Alberta to ports in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Keystone pipeline is one of several that are poised to etch routes across the North American landscape. One such route is located directly in Georgia, and would advance past Valdosta.

Spectra Energy and NextEra Energy have partnered to construct the Sabal Trail pipeline.

The pipeline, which will cost roughly $3 billion, will stretch 474 miles across the southeastern United States.

Sabal Trail’s primary goal will be the transpiration of natural gas to a refinery in Central Florida.

The argument around these pipelines of course centers around a growing global argument concerning a reliable source of sustainable power.

The Keystone pipeline has already proven divisive among Georgia politicians. Those who are in support of the plan often cite economic benefits as major boon to the project.

“I ultimately believe that environmental concerns have been addressed through a deliberative process, and that the issue of economic growth, economic development and the imperative to focus on North American energy independence is compelling,” Michelle Nunn, US Senate hopeful, said at the Marietta Diner during a campaign event in May.

Fact checking websites, such as politifact.com, have already contested the economic boon that many are claiming will accompany the proposed pipeline.

In 2012, Johnny Isakson, R-Georgia, said in a speech at Dalton State College that Keystone would employ 20,000 Americans.

“Those 20,000 don’t represent actual people, but one job lasting for one year of a two-year project,”Politifact said about the statement. “The number of construction and manufacturing workers may be closer to 10,000, if you accept TransCanada’s estimate.

“And there’s strong evidence from credible sources that it may be lower. Finally, it’s an open question how many of the jobs would be in America.”

The website eventually closed with the verdict that the statement was false.