NPRA Urges State Department to Approve Keystone XL Pipeline

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Petrochemical & Refiners Association submitted written comments to the U.S. State Department and provided oral testimony today at a department hearing to urge approval of construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.

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The pipeline would transport oil from oil sands in Alberta in Canada to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast. It requires State Department approval because it crosses the U.S. border.

Here are excerpts from the NPRA written comments:

"NPRA supports the Keystone XL pipeline project that builds upon an already stable, friendly relationship with Canada. All Americans will benefit since they all rely on stable sources of energy to transport their goods and services, power their facilities, fuel their vehicles, and manufacture their products. The importance of approving the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline is critical for maintaining and strengthening America's energy security, creating American jobs and stimulating the American economy. It is vital that the U.S. take steps to strengthen our nation's security by meeting more of our energy needs through a strategic ally and partner like Canada, and reduce our dependence on energy resources from unstable, and potentially unfriendly, regions of the world."

"Although the U.S. oil market cannot be isolated from price shifts in the world market, history has shown that adding new supplies of crude oil to the world market mitigates cost volatility. With immense reserves of over 175 billion barrels, Canada has the second-largest oil reserves in the world and represents one of the most promising new supply sources."

"Canada is the largest supplier of oil to the U.S., providing nearly 2 million barrels per day. The proposed Keystone XL pipeline would allow us to increase imports from our North American ally by more than 500,000 barrels of oil per day."

"Additionally, according to the Energy Policy Research Foundation, the Keystone XL pipeline combined with an existing pipeline would bring more than 1.1 million barrels of oil per day to the U.S. from Canadian oil sands through the Keystone pipeline system. There is also the potential for new supplies from the Bakken and Williston formations in North Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana that would offer considerable expansion of North American supplies."

"The United States already relies on a network of more than 168,000 miles of liquid pipelines to safely and efficiently transport oil to provide energy that is vital to fuel our nation. Pipelines provide a safe, reliable, economical and environmentally favorable way to transport petroleum products throughout the United States."

More information about facts and myths regarding the Keystone XL pipeline is available on the NPRA website.

– NPRA –

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