API: Approve Job-Creating Keystone XL Pipeline Project Now

API Downstream Manager Cindy Schild and API Central Region Director John Kerekes told reporters this morning that Americans overwhelmingly support the Keystone XL pipeline project, which could create many thousands of U.S. jobs and strengthen the nation’s energy security. They urged President Obama to approve the project as soon as possible:

Schild: “Americans understand that approving Keystone XL is the right thing to do for our economy and energy security. Public opinion polls – including recent polls from Rasmussen and the Washington Post – consistently show Americans believe the pipeline is a good idea. In our own Election Day polling, three-fourths of voters supported building the pipeline, including majorities of Republicans, Independents and Democrats. For most people, building the pipeline is common sense. We will need more oil just as we will need more jobs. While use of renewables will expand, oil will remain critical to our nation’s energy equation for decades to come. By the administration’s own estimates, oil and natural gas will continue to provide most of the energy we need to fuel our country for decades. A decision to approve the pipeline is a rational way to help plan for this. It could help reduce our dependency on oil from less stable parts of the world and contribute to achieving self-sufficiency in transportation fuels in as few as 12 years.”

Kerekes: “With today’s final [Nebraska] public hearing, the DEQ can conclude deliberations on this project, the Governor can make his decision within the next 30 days – which we believe will be supportive of the pipeline – and that decision will be transmitted to the U.S. Dept. of State and the White House. This will conclude the longest pipeline application deliberation in history, which, with Nebraska’s expected support we believe, will result in final approval for the project to commence. This pipeline application has been the most studied in history. It is now time to wrap this study up, hold this final hearing, issue a report to the Governor, then let the Governor communicate to the federal government the decision on behalf of the State of Nebraska. Then, let’s get the pipeline approved in Washington and – in the words of our labor allies – ‘let’s get to work’!”

About API
API is a national trade association that represents all segments of America’s technology-driven oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 500 members – including large integrated companies, exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms – provide most of the nation’s energy. The industry also supports 9.2 million U.S. jobs and 7.7 percent of the U.S. economy, delivers $86M a day in revenue to our government, and, since 2000, has invested over $2T in U.S. capital projects to advance all forms of energy, including alternatives.