Dive summary:

• The stage has been reset for an Obama administration decision about the revised Keystone XL pipeline to bring tar sands from Canada to U.S. refineries, and environmental and energy advocates both see reasons for hope.
• The energy sector, which would create construction jobs during the project, says objections to a route through the Nebraska Sand Hills have been taken care of with a new plan, and the need for energy independence should work for the pipeline.
• Environmental advocates say petroleum interests backed Mitt Romney in the presidential election and lost, so momentum is against the pipeline.

From the article:

Environmental organizations and the oil-and-gas industry say one of the first litmus tests for President Obama's second term is his highly anticipated decision over a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline. ...