Keystone XL Receives Support from Thousands of Nebraskans
Over 32,000 Cornhuskers Urge State Department to Approve the Project
HOUSTON, TX: Today Nebraskans for Jobs and Energy Independence, in conjunction with Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), announced that it submitted 32,601 individual public comments from Nebraska residents calling on the U.S. Department of State to swiftly approve the Keystone XL pipeline. The comments urge the agency to examine only those environmental impact issues associated with the new route throughNebraska in its supplement review.
In response, Nebraskans for Jobs and Energy Independence spokesman, Barry Rubin issued the following statement:
“We hope the Department of State listens to the thousands of Nebraskans who have joined us in saying that Keystone XL will provide a plentiful and reliable source of energy, in the safest manner possible, all the while injecting our local economy with a boost of jobs and income. As the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality moves forward with its assessment of the new route throughNebraska, we urge the U.S. Department of State to proceed swiftly with its assessment and permit this project expeditiously.”
Added CEA Executive Vice President Michael Whatley:
“Consumer Energy Alliance is very pleased to see tens of thousands of Nebraskans voice their support for this critical project. As the State Department plans its next environmental assessment, we strongly urge the agency not to unduly expand the scope of the review to include issues not directly associated with the new route throughNebraska. Doing so will unnecessarily delay the project and the significant economic benefits this project will bring to American energy consumers andNebraskaworkers. We simply cannot delay this project any longer, especially as millions of American struggle to find work”
On May 4, 2012 TransCanada submitted an application for a presidential permit to the State Department, triggering a public comment period on new issues that should be addressed in the next round of environmental assessment. The State Department previously completed a three-year environmental review of Keystone XL that concluded with the release of a Final Environmental Impact Statement in August 2011. Experts project that the project will create over 18,000 construction and manufacturing jobs and generate investments of over $1.2 billion in the corridor states ofMontana,South DakotaandNebraska.
