NPRA Says Rejection of Keystone XL Pipeline Threatens American National Security and Jobs

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- National Petrochemical & Refiners Association President Charles T. Drevna today issued the following statement after the announcement that the Obama administration has rejected a construction permit for the Keystone XL pipeline:

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110309/MM60639LOGO)

"President Obama has given in to political pressure from extremist opponents of fossil fuels and turned his back on American consumers who need fuel, American workers who need jobs, and America's economic and national security. It is incredibly unwise of President Obama to reject a steady, secure and reliable supply of oil from our close friend and neighbor Canada at a time when Iran is threatening to choke off a significant portion of global oil supplies. 

"Rejecting a construction permit for the critically important Keystone XL pipeline may be good politics to appeal to fringe protest groups, but it is bad policy for the American people. The Keystone XL pipeline proposal has been studied exhaustively for more than three years and has been shown beyond any doubt to be safe and in America's vital national interest. The United States already relies on a network of more than 168,000 miles of liquid pipelines to safely and efficiently transport oil to serve the American people, and the Keystone XL pipeline would be a valuable addition to this network.

"We hope that if TransCanada reapplies for another construction permit for the pipeline the new permit will be approved promptly, because this pipeline is in America's national interest."

An NPRA compilation of myths and facts about the proposed Keystone XL pipeline can be found here.

NOTE: NPRA is changing its name Jan. 25 to the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers. More information here.

NPRA is a trade association representing high-tech American manufacturers of virtually the entire U.S. supply of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, other fuels and home heating oil, as well as the petrochemicals used as building blocks for thousands of vital products in daily life. NPRA members make modern life possible and keep America moving and growing as they meet the needs of our nation and local communities, strengthen economic and national security, and provide jobs directly and indirectly for more than 2 million Americans.

SOURCE National Petrochemical & Refiners Association