CEA: It’s Time to Build Keystone XL
Legislation reflects Americans’ sense of urgency to create jobs and increase energy security
WASHINGTON, DC – Today Congress approved legislation expediting the approval process for the Keystone XL Pipeline. The legislation forces the State Department to approve or deny the Presidential Permit for the pipeline within 60 days.
In response, Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) Executive Vice President Michael Whatley issued the following statement:
“We are pleased to see that Congress has a stronger sense of urgency than the Obama Administration regarding the national importance and great need for this critical project. The fact of the matter is that Keystone XL will have immediate benefits to the national economy including the creation of over 20,000 construction and manufacturing jobs at a time when our Nation needs them most. In addition, the project will generate more than $5 billion in new tax revenues for the corridor states alone. On top of all this, the 700,000 barrels of oil that will flow through Keystone XL every day will significantly strengthen our energy security by reducing our reliance on OPEC and unstable foreign sources of energy. This project should have been an immediate priority from day one, but instead has been subject to countless unnecessary delays, the latest of which was the President’s decision last month to push the final decision on the project until after the 2012 election.
“Americans struggling to find work and meet high fuel costs deserve better than to be treated as collateral damage in a decision motivated by political opportunity over economic well being. After three years of comprehensive study – which concluded Keystone XL will be the safest pipeline ever built in the United States – it’s time for the Administration to stop playing games with American’s livelihoods and the nation’s energy security and approve Keystone XL.”
Earlier this year, CEA submitted more than 450,000 public comments from Americans across the country supporting construction of Keystone XL.
