Washington, Jan 18 -
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Obama announced he will deny construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. The pipeline was anticipated to have created as many as 140,000 direct and indirect jobs, would have meant much-needed tax revenue for state and local governments around the pipeline, and would have lowered energy costs for all Americans. Energy prices continue to be a huge drain on the American bank account and are expected to get worse. In fact, many experts expect gas prices to reach $5 a gallon in 2012 in some places.
“This is one hundred percent a political move by President Obama to appease the environmental activists that got him elected,” stated Westmoreland. “His announcement today denying the Keystone Pipeline application is just one more example that at the end of the day the president would rather save a tree than an American job. Whether the president and his environmental buddies like it or not, right now you cannot power a car with the wind. We need to develop all forms of energy in order to keep up with the needs of the American people – and that includes traditional forms of energy like oil, natural gas, and coal, as well.”
Transcanada initially began the application process for the Keystone Pipeline more than three years ago. After numerous stalls and seemingly unending regulatory juggernaut last summer it seemed as though the project was finally going to be approved. However, the Obama Administration stepped in at the last minute and once again delayed a decision until after the 2012 presidential elections – a move many on both sides of the aisle called politically motivated. In response, House Republicans joined millions of Americans to demand the president release the Keystone Pipeline from the never-ending regulatory stranglehold and make a decision. After several attempts were thwarted by Senate Democrats, language was finally included in the payroll tax extension legislation that passed both chambers at the end of last year that required the president to make a decision by February 21, 2012.
“President Obama’s announcement today all but assures these much-needed energy resources will be sold to China," stated Westmoreland. "Thanks to the continued delays by the Obama Administration, Canada had already begun talks with China, and the official denial today will most certainly progress those talks rapidly. All of this means we will be forced to continue to rely on countries in the unstable Middle East for our energy needs rather than our neighbor to the north, Canada. How on earth does the president think this is good policy?”
The announcement came from the U.S. Department of State, who was given jurisdiction over the matter because it involves a foreign government. Transcanada was informed they could reapply, however it is uncertain whether they will choose to do so or not.
