Apr. 29--The company that wants to build an oil pipeline through western South Dakota seems to be taking a more public-friendly approach this time around.

A meeting in Winner Monday to discuss the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline began with TransCanada representatives touting the many positives that could come to the region if the proposal becomes reality. Among the possible benefits, according to the representatives, are $20 million to $30 million in revenue to the state, first-year property tax revenues of $10.3 million and a savings of $5.2 million per year in state aid to education.

The meeting was preceded by a radio advertising campaign that said the XL pipeline is "good for South Dakota" and "good for America" as patriotic music played in the background.

A report by The Daily Republic a few weeks back noted that opposition to the XL pipeline has been difficult to find. That's quite different from the XL's cousin, the Keystone line, which is being built through eastern South Dakota. Residents in counties to the east of us complained about the project from the get-go, noting what they considered shoddy and insensitive treatment at the hands of TransCanada.

This time, it seems different, although many questions and a few accusations were tossed about at Monday's meeting in Winner. Still, the tone of the meeting was cordial, which also is in contrast to some earlier public meetings with TransCanada.

As we thought with the Keystone pipeline in the East, we figure the XL pipeline in the West is going to happen. However, it's in everybody's best interest to keep an open line between landowners -- who naturally are wary of potential problems -- and TransCanada.

We don't blame landowners for their concerns. We would have the same questions and worries.

Nor do we blame TransCanada for its efforts to construct lines from Canadian oilfields into the United States. We prefer to get our oil from North American sources, and agree that benefits can come locally by having the lines run through South Dakota.

We feel patriotic music over the background of a radio ad -- one that repeats "good for South Dakota, good for America" several times -- may be a little over the top. Actually, the pipeline probably will be better for TransCanada than anybody.

Still, we appreciate TransCanada's seemingly softer approach this time around.

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