LANSING — Sen. John Proos has introduced a resolution calling on the president and the U.S. secretary of state to approve construction of the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline to safely bring Canadian oil to American refineries.
“Approving the Keystone XL pipeline is a smart, common-sense solution to create jobs, protect the environment and reduce our dependence on unstable Middle East governments for oil,” said Proos, R-St. Joseph. “We must address America’s long- and short-term energy needs, and we are adding more alternative energy sources every year. However, our economy will continue to rely on oil-based fuels for many years.
“This pipeline can play a critical role in fostering energy stability and long-term economic growth while also making the world a safer place.”
Senate Concurrent Resolution 12 states that the growing production of conflict-free oil from Canada’s oil sands and the Bakken Formation in Saskatchewan, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota can replace crude oil imported from countries outside of North America. Once completed, TransCanada’s Keystone XL and Gulf Coast Expansion projects could displace roughly 44 percent of the oil the United States currently imports from OPEC.
“The pipeline offers us a chance to partner with a trusted neighbor instead of continuing to import oil from unfriendly governments that use our dollars for undemocratic purposes,” Proos said. “My resolution urges the president to end the years of debate and studies and finally approve the building of a pipeline that will safely and efficiently fuel our economy and create thousands of American jobs.”
Proos said that the project has been thoroughly reviewed, having been subject to multiple environmental impact statements and U.S. studies. Each analysis has concluded that it poses the least amount of environmental impact of all modes of crude oil transportation.
“Pipelines are the safest way to transport petroleum products,” Proos said. “The Keystone XL will help protect the environment by replacing the equivalent of 200 ocean tankers per year, resulting in reduced emissions equal to taking nearly four million cars off the road.”