Republican Governors Urge President Obama To Take Decisive Action On Keystone XL Pipeline

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Five Republican governors sent a letter to President Obama today urging him to take decisive action to advance the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.

Governors Jack Dalrymple of North Dakota, Dennis Daugaard of South Dakota, Dave Heineman of Nebraska, Mary Fallin of Oklahoma and Rick Perry of Texas signed the letter in support of the project, citing a January State Department report, which concluded that the pipeline is not likely to result in a substantial increase in greenhouse gases, and reiterating the project’s importance to the nation’s economic and energy security interests.

“For far too long, President Obama has neglected to approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, a potentially vital source of domestic energy and economic activity for the nation, especially for the states along the route,” said RGA Executive Director Phil Cox. “No one knows more than these five governors the potential economic boom this project could spur, and the longer President Obama insists on delaying the project, the longer he delays key job creation. It’s time the President listens to these governors and quits blocking the pipeline.”

A copy of the letter can be found here and is excerpted below.

Last June, you conditioned approval of the Keystone XL pipeline on a finding that the project would be in our nation’s interest, which would be served only if the project “does not significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution.”  In a long-anticipated report released January 31, the State Department determined that approval of the pipeline is unlikely to result in a substantial increase in greenhouse gas emissions.  Such a finding should now clear the way for final endorsement of the pipeline.

We maintain that approval of the pipeline, a critical energy infrastructure project, is clearly in the “national interest” with quantifiable benefits for not only our constituents, but for the entire American people. 

[T]he pipeline would improve our energy security by diversifying the nation’s energy infrastructure, which would help ensure access to reliable and affordable fuels for our cars and trucks. 

We ask that you set a prudent, rational deadline for a decision on whether the Keystone project is in the “national interest” – one based on the condition you set in June.

We look forward to working with your Administration to ensure that this pipeline, which will undoubtedly promote U.S. economic and energy security interests, is built without any further delay.

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