President Donald Trump signed executive orders on January 24 to advance construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines. The orders do not grant final permits for the pipelines but will move both projects forward.
"We applaud President Trump's action to expedite the review and approval of the Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipelines,” said Chet Thompson, president and chief executive officer of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers. “Both projects are good for the country, received the required environmental approvals, and never should have been delayed.
"Today marks an important step toward improving our nation's infrastructure, while signifying that this administration is serious about developing a rational energy plan that understands the important role of oil and natural gas to our country's prosperity.
The Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA) commended President Trump for signing the executive orders that will allow the construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines to move forward, both of which will safely deliver the resources US families and businesses need to drive down costs.
In the case of the Keystone XL pipeline, the executive orders overturn the Obama administration’s decision to deny a US State Department permit required to allow the pipeline to cross the US-Canadian border. For the Dakota Access Pipeline, President Trump overturned several Obama-era regulatory procedural measures that had resulted in unnecessary project delays and cost increases.
CEA President David Holt said: “CEA has strongly supported both the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines for many years and we enthusiastically applaud President Trump’s decision to move ahead with these long-delayed projects.
“Critical infrastructure projects like Keystone XL and Dakota Access will bring much-needed crude oil to markets, which will help create the fuel, power, and products that Americans use every day. Everyone--families, farmers, manufacturers, distributors, and small businesses--will benefit from the decision to greenlight a pair of pipelines that will help cash-strapped families lower costs, especially the tens of millions living on a fixed income or below the poverty line. These pipelines will create both immediate jobs and long-term economic opportunities for Americans across the nation, helping to fulfill one of President Trump’s main campaign promises to create more US jobs.
“But America needs even more pipelines to move forward. As part of CEA’s Pipelines for America campaign, CEA recently released a report showing how failing to construct vital oil and natural gas pipelines, which deliver fuel and electricity to our homes and businesses, will result in a 31% shortfall in US electricity capacity by 2030--which, in turn, would raise energy prices, kill jobs and harm those of us living on fixed incomes.