President's Delay Tactics On Keystone XL Hurt U.S. Energy And Job Security

The American Petroleum Institute challenged President Obama to immediately boost our nation’s economic and energy security by lending his support to the entire Keystone XL pipeline. There is no reason for additional delays now that TransCanada has resubmitted a presidential permit application and Nebraska is evaluating the newly proposed route alternatives that completely avoid the Sand Hills area.

“The earth hasn’t moved, the geology hasn’t changed, the information remains the same, so there should be no reason for a re-review of KXL,” said API Executive Vice President Marty Durbin. “The pipeline will be state of the art and has already been thoroughly examined for more than three years, including three environmental assessments.”

The Keystone XL pipeline route remains the same with the exception of Nebraska. Nebraska is working to move forward on a new route that will avoid the Sand Hills. In addition to bringing 830,000 additional barrels of Canadian oil to the market every day, the pipeline would provide a critical outlet for domestic Bakken crude to reach markets, resulting in even more benefit to consumers.

“The president should take this opportunity to approve the entire pipeline to demonstrate he is serious about an ‘all the above’ energy strategy,” said Durbin. “There is no legitimate reason for delaying this project any further. Keystone XL is a job creator and will bring more reliable Canadian oil to the market, which could help bring downward pressure on prices at the pump. KXL continues to garner more bipartisan support on the Hill and polls continue to show growing public support, so we urge President Obama to support this project that will make us more energy secure.”

About API
API represents more than 500 oil and natural gas companies, leaders of a technology-driven industry that supplies most of America's energy, supports 9.2 million U.S. jobs and 7.7 percent of the U.S. economy, delivers more than $86M a day in revenue to our government, and, since 2000, has invested more than $2T in U.S. capital projects to advance all forms of energy, including alternatives.

SOURCE: The American Petroleum Institute (API)