President Barack Obama has trampled over the interests of a few very powerful groups by rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline extension project.
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Overall, President Obama’s statement reflected his commitment to fight climate change. “I agree with that decision”, said Obama.
On Wednesday, the State Department denied requests by TransCanada Corp.to delay the almost seven-year review of the proposed oil pipeline that would carry crude oil sands through a 1,200 mile network stretching from Canada to Nebraska.
“While our politics have been consumed by a debate about whether or not this pipeline would create jobs or lower gas prices, we’ve gone ahead and created jobs and lowered gas prices”, Obama said.
Obama also noted that he would travel to Paris in a few weeks to meet with world leaders at an worldwide climate summit.
“Now, the truth is, the United States will continue to rely on oil and gas as we transition – as we must transition – to a clean energy economy”, Obama said. “The Senate passed our bipartisan permit streamlining measures as part of the highway bill, and I’m fighting to enact it into law”, stated Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah. In October 2010, Clinton indicated she was “inclined” to approve the project, but has since backed away from that stance and in September said she opposes it.
In the president’s speech, he said the oil pipeline would not make a meaningful long-term contribution to the economy. TransCanada last week tried to halt the review process, a move that was rejected by USA government lawyers and now appears to have been an attempt to avert outright rejection.
When that next legislative try happens hinges on several factors, said Heitkamp, adding that Congress should first gauge the new Canadian administration’s views on Keystone and TransCanada’s readiness to proceed to make sure they have legislative success.
Many environmentalists view this as a victory, but they shouldn’t be so sure.
Republicans, who were supporting Keystone XL project, declared themselves unhappy with Obama’s decision.
REP. HENRY CUELLAR (D), Texas: So, you’re talking about jobs, you’re talking about energy independence.
The project could only be revived if a Republican wins the White House in 2016.
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Crookston, who’s a member of the United Steelworkers union, also didn’t like that there was no guarantee American steel or labor would be used to build the Keystone XL pipeline.
