Keystone Pipeline Anniversary

Press Release

Five years ago, the Keystone XL Pipeline permit application was submitted. This energy project has the potential to put more than 20,000 people to work across the country and help move American toward energy independence. The delay has been due to an environmental study by the State Department for more than four years and President Obama's unwillingness to confront the anti-energy interests in his own party, according to U.S. Senator Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., who has support the pipeline since it was originally proposed.

"Creating jobs and getting energy from our friends should have been an easy decision five years ago," said Enzi. "It should be an even easier decision today. With the economy still languishing and people looking for work, putting tens of thousands of people to work is the right thing to do. In Wyoming, the energy industry has created high-paying jobs that thousands of people rely on. Approving this pipeline will not only help the country move toward energy independence, it'll help ensure we get more energy domestically and from countries that actually like us. There's no reason to be getting energy from Venezuela and the Middle East when we can be working with our friends in Canada."

On December 23, 2011, President Obama signed a bill into law that required him decide within 60 days whether or not to grant the permit to allow TransCanada to build the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. The only way the necessary permit would be denied is if it was shown that the pipeline was not in the national interest. The president rejected the plan mid-January citing concerns over the proposed route. By this time local officials were satisfied with the new pipeline route.

Despite bipartisan votes by the House and Senate in favor of the project, President Obama continues to unnecessarily delay the pipeline and stand in the way of more domestic energy and job creation, according to Enzi.

"President Obama needs to say yes to jobs and American energy and no to those whose goal is to bring domestic energy production to a standstill. That would be leadership. He represents the whole country, not just those who supported his campaign, but that is the problem, he has never stopped campaigning," said Enzi.

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