Federal pipeline plans have Oklahoma town buzzing

President Donald Trump says he wants to resume construction on the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would be huge news for the town of Cushing.>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channelSome say resuming it is possible.Cushing is known as the “Pipeline Crossroads of the World,” with miles of oil tanks all connected to the Keystone Pipeline, which runs from Canada to the Gulf. Trump now wants to bring back phase two of that pipeline project, which could impact the tanks and distribution here in Oklahoma. The second phase would not build a new pipeline system in Oklahoma, but would connect with the existing Keystone pipeline.“I know that it’s an economy that really goes up and down, and it can be hard,” said Jaycee Everett, the manager of the Oasis Hotel.A boom in the oil industry means a boom for small towns like Cushing. “Back in 2020, when the rest of the world was honestly pretty slow and shut down, Cushing was thriving,” Everett said. “I have people stay here with us that are welders, they’re tank painters, they’re doing everything – inspectors. There’s a lot of different industries that come to play on these pipelines.”Everett said she’s seen firsthand impact when the Keystone Pipeline was built, and hundreds were filling up the hotel’s rooms in town.But the second phase of the Keystone XL Pipeline project was halted. Now Trump wants to bring it back and the new line could connect Canada to Nebraska and would link with the finished pipeline system.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.One man who worked in the oil field for years said if the second phase is done, oil production would increase, meaning more oil bought and sold and benefits for Cushing.“That’s where it really benefits Cushing and other towns similar, because they’re storage tanks, if the oil is just being stored it’s not doing anything,” said Kaden Ledgerwood, owner of Ironside Enterprise.The company who was building the second phase of the Keystone XL Pipeline told KOCO 5 that they’ve moved on from the project. Now those in towns like Cushing are wondering if it’ll be built.“I’m hopeful for the phone to start ringing again,” Everett said.Trump said he wants a company to pick up the project and build it. He said he promises easy approvals and an almost immediate start.Top HeadlinesWATCH: Wild video shows Florida alligator halting traffic and carrying turtle across roadMichelle Trachtenberg, former ‘Gossip Girl’ star, has died at 39Suspect arrested after domestic disturbance leads to deadly shooting at northeast Oklahoma City homeProtesters rallying at Oklahoma state Capitol pushed back against Superintendent Ryan Walters