WASHINGTON, June 25, 2013 ─ American Petroleum Institute President CEO Jack Gerard urged President Obama to approve the Keystone XL pipeline immediately to enhance our nation’s energy security.

“Unless the president changes the goal post, his questions about the Keystone XL pipeline have been answered by four comprehensive State Department reviews that have concluded the project will have no significant impact on the environment,” said Gerard. “If the president wants to know whether the Keystone XL pipeline is good for the country all he has to do is listen to the American people.  More than 70 percent of voters believe it would strengthen America’s national security and benefit our military.

“Getting more oil from our northern neighbor just makes sense,” said Gerard. “Of all the top five countries we import oil from, only Canada has GHG regulations. This oil is being and will continue to be produced. It will be managed better in the U.S. and Canada than other countries seeking this oil – not to mention the GHGs emitted to transport it there. Since 1990, GHG emissions associated with every barrel of oil sands crude produced have been reduced by 26 percent. President Obama has all the reasons he needs to approve the Keystone XL pipeline today.” API is a national trade association that represents all segments of America’s technology-driven oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 500 members – including large integrated companies, exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms – provide most of the nation’s energy. The industry also supports 9.2 million U.S. jobs and 7.7 percent of the U.S. economy, delivers $85 million a day in revenue to our government, and, since 2000, has invested over $2 trillion in U.S. capital projects to advance all forms of energy, including alternatives