Petroleum Institute to Obama: "Huge Political Consequence" if Keystone Pipeline Rejected

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Challenges. Discussion »

API Addresses Press Yesterday

WASHINGTON - Jack Gerard, the president of the American Petroleum Institute, said President Barack Obama would face a "huge political consequence" if the president does not approve the Keystone XL pipeline.

Before he left for his holiday vacation to Hawaii, President Obama signed the payroll tax cut legislation into law, which includes a Republican provision requiring President Obama to make a final decision on the proposed 1,700 mile controversial pipeline within 60 days.

In November, the president said his administration would delay the final decision until after this year's presidential election. Congress, acting pressure from the oil industry, inserted the Keystone provision into the legislation.

American Indians and environmental groups are opposed to the proposed pipeline.

The Keystone pipeline is opposed by the National Congress of American Indians because of the dangers it poses to water supply on American Indian land as it goes through South Dakota.

Environmental groups are opposed because of the overall dangers it poses to Americans. TransCanada, the owner of the proposed pipeline, has a horrible track record with cutting corners to save money and its numerous spills pertaining to other pipelines it already owns and operates in Canada.

"Clearly, the Keystone XL pipeline is in the national interest. A determination to decide anything less than that I believe will have huge political consequences," Gerard stated during the American Petroleum Institute's annual "State of American Energy" meeting Wednesday.

In late December, the White House indicated the 60 day timeline would force the president to the reject the Keystone pipeline because there is not adequate time to properly examine the potential dangers of the pipeline.

posted January 5, 2011 8:30 am est