WASHINGTON, DC - A group of over 100 organizations from all over the country wrote to President Obama today urging him to approve the Keystone XL pipeline “as soon as possible." The broad coalition of supporters cited the immense benefits the pipeline will bring to America in terms of job creation, economic growth, energy security, and national security.
The letter reads, “With your approval, this shovel-ready project will provide 20,000 jobs in construction and manufacturing in the next two years, and add tens of thousands of additional jobs throughout the economy in other sectors including service, retail and distribution. With our nation’s stubbornly high unemployment, it would be irresponsible to let such good-paying jobs slip away
“The Keystone XL pipeline will also greatly enhance America’s energy security. With the current situation in the Middle East, and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continuing to rise, approving this pipeline is the right energy and national security policy for America. Canada is already our largest supplier of imported oil - almost 2.4 million barrels per day, or one fourth of our imports. With this proposed pipeline, our crude imports from Canada could reach 4 million barrels a day by 2020, twice what we currently import from the Persian Gulf. Enhancing our energy partnership with Canada will strengthen America’s energy future."
