The Florida Current reports on the Tallahassee press conference that Consumer Energy Alliance – Florida hosted in the State Capitol to urge the White House to approve the Keystone XL pipeline.

Some legislators and business leaders on April 29, 2014 urged the White House to stop delaying and to instead approve the Keystone XL Pipeline between Canada and the Texas Gulf Coast.

The Consumer Energy Alliance held a press conference at the Capitol and was joined by Rep. Mike Hill, R-Pensacola, and Rep. Jose Felix Diaz, R-Miami and chairman of the House Energy & Utilities Subcommittee.

Hill is sponsor of HB 281 urging approval of the pipeline. The bill passed the House and Senate on voice votes. Some Democrats spoke against the memorial, saying the pipeline isn’t an issue for the Legislature because it won’t pass through Florida.

Kevin Doyle, executive director of the Consumer Energy Alliance-Florida, countered after the press conference, “I think it’s important with Florida being such a heavy consuming state for energy the more we can get that supply from friends, such as Canada, rather than Venezuela.”

Others appearing at the press conference were Tom Feeney, president and CEO of Associated Industries of Florida, and Beth Richardson of the Consulate General of Canada.