The Keystone XL Pipeline that could be built from Alberta, through southwest Saskatchewan, has cleared another hurdle.

In what some are calling a change of heart, Nebraska Governor Dave Heinman wrote a letter to US President Barack Obama to say the state approved a new route for TransCanada's pipeline. Nebraska opposed the first application because the route went through a fragile ecological zone, but the new route avoids it.

Despite the change, Alberta's Pembina Institute still reports that Keystone would add 22.4 megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, equal to 4.6 million extra cars on the road.

Premier Brad Wall joined 10 other U.S. governors last week in writing to President Obama urging him to approve the application. He noted in addition to other benefits, the construction of the pipeline would bring economic activity into the southwest.

Wall says the approval by Nebraska's governor is helpful, and means all of the governors along the route through the United States support the project.