"Two consulting firms provided State Department with key analysis of whether the pipeline would speed development of Canada's oil sands."

"The State Department's recent conclusion that the Keystone XL pipeline "is unlikely to have a substantial impact" on the rate of Canada's oil sands development was based on analysis provided by two consulting firms with ties to oil and pipeline companies that could benefit from the proposed project.

EnSys Energy has worked with ExxonMobil, BP and Koch Industries, which own oil sands production facilities and refineries in the Midwest that process heavy Canadian crude oil. Imperial Oil, one of Canada's largest oil sands producers, is a subsidiary of Exxon.

ICF International works with pipeline and oil companies but doesn't list specific clients on its website. It declined to comment on the Keystone, referring questions to the State Department."

Lisa Song reports for InsideClimate News March 6, 2013. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Keystone XL: US Government Report Drew on Analysis By Oil Consultants" (Guardian) [3]

"'State Department' Keystone XL Report Actually Written By TransCanada Contractor" (Forecast the Facts/Huffpo/Brad Johnson) [4]

"Canada Intensifies U.S. Lobbying Campaign on Keystone" (Postmedia News) [5]

"U.S. Keystone Decision May Delay Transcanada Six Months" (Bloomberg) [6]