HOUSTON, TX: Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) applauds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Galveston District for quickly approving the one of the needed wetlands and water crossings permit for the Gulf Coast Pipeline – a segment of the larger Keystone XL project. This critical action was needed to ensure the project remains on pace for expedited development as indicated by President Obama in remarks earlier this year.
“Consumer Energy Alliance is very pleased the Galveston District of the Corps of Engineers acted expeditiously on this permit given the importance the project’s completion to the national economy,” said CEA Executive Vice-President Michael Whatley. “This pipeline will facilitate the safe and reliable transport of oil to Gulf Coast refineries for processing into fuel and other products. Expanding pipeline capacity from Cushing, OK to the Gulf Coast will provide a cheaper, more stable source of crude than what Gulf refineries currently receive and as a result will result in significant benefits to consumers in every sector of the United States economy.”
With the approval of this permit complete, only two additional permits are needed from the Army Corps of Engineers before the Gulf Coast Pipeline can proceed in earnest. CEA encourages the Tulsa and Fort Worth Districts to move as expeditiously as possible while working to ensure protection of ecosystems in the areas along the pipelines corridor. The Keystone XL project which will provide immense national benefits including the creation of over 20,000 jobs, increased energy security, and reduced national exposure to an increasingly volatile global energy market.