12.19.14

Hoeven Statement on President Obama's Remarks Today on the Keystone XL Pipeline

FARGO, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement in response to President Barack Obama’s remarks about the Keystone XL pipeline:

“After six years of delay, President Obama’s comments about the Keystone XL pipeline today were more of the same and just not accurate.

“The President said that the pipeline would move only Canadian oil and that it would all be exported. He’s wrong on both counts. The Keystone XL pipeline will also carry light sweet crude from North Dakota and Montana, and the president’s own Department of Energy produced a report that said the oil would be used in the United States.

“The president also claims the Keystone XL pipeline project will create only ‘a couple thousand jobs.’ The Obama State Department reported in its fifth and most recent environmental review that the project would create more than 42,000 jobs in the construction phase of the project, and would generate about $2.05 billion in earnings. Is the president really telling the families of those union workers that these high-paying jobs are not important?

“Finally, the State Department reported it would take 1,400 tanker rail cars every day to ship the same amount of oil as the pipeline. Ironically, not building the pipeline will result in more emissions from trucks, trains and oil tankers than would ever be produced by the Keystone XL pipeline. The same State Department report said the pipeline will have no significant environmental impact.

“Just today, a poll was released showing that nearly 70 percent of the American people support the Keystone XL pipeline. They know it’s about energy, jobs, helping to grow our economy and increasing national security by increasing energy security. They don’t want to depend on the Middle East for oil when we can produce it at home, along with our closest ally Canada. Incoming Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has indicated that my bill to approve the Keystone XL pipeline congressionally will be the first matter we take up in the new legislative session, and I will do all I can to make sure it passes for the American people.”

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