CEA: LB1 Bill in Nebraska Legislature will Stop Keystone XL Pipeline
Legislation will Inhibit Economic Growth and Job Creation in Nebraska and Nationwide
(Lincoln, NE)— Executive Vice President of Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) Michael Whatley will testify at the Nebraska Legislature’s Natural Resources Committee Hearing in opposition to LB1, a bill that will create additional red tape and effectively stop the Keystone XL pipeline project. In advance of his testimony Whatley stated:
“LB1 is designed to stop construction of the Keystone XL project and it is an unconstitutional attempt to change state law to affect an ongoing regulatory process. The U.S. State Department has already determined that the project poses no significant risk to the environment and that all other routes considered would pose a higher risk.
We urge the committee and the Nebraska legislature to defeat any legislation that would retroactively change the regulatory process for permitting the Keystone XL pipeline project in order to block it from moving forward. Keystone XL will create thousands of high paying jobs, significantly boost the U.S. economy and enhance our energy security.”
The bill, which was introduced by Sen. Dubas, is one of five bills that has been introduced in the special session to address the Keystone XL pipeline – and one of four bills that has been referred to the Natural Resources Committee. It seeks to require any company seeking to exercise eminent domain for the construction of a major oil pipeline to secure a permit from the state Public Service Commission.