CDT Roundup: 17 Deals, 13 Firms, 138 Lawyers, $6.8B

News this week that Joe Biden plans to rescind the presidential permit for the long-contested Keystone XL pipeline project on his first day in office may have been the symbolic nail in the coffin for a pan-North American oil and gas industry. The controversial project being developed by Canadian midstream giant TC Energy couldn’t even survive with a stated zero-emission goal and a pledge to include Indigenous communities as equity owners. 

Biden’s planned move could be based partly on the incoming administration’s decarbonization goals, partly on retribution for the Trump administration for approving the permit after Barack Obama denied it. Whatever the case, the oil sands pipeline was bound to be a very public black eye for Biden if approved.