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Burgum, ND congressional delegation urge Biden to support Keystone XL Pipeline

Gov. Doug Burgum and the state’s congressional delegation are urging President Biden to support the Keystone XL Pipeline and reconsider his revocation of the pipeline permit.

As one of his first executive orders on Wednesday, Biden signed an order to revoke the permit.

The contested northern leg of the Keystone XL Pipeline would transport oil from Hardisty, Alberta, through Montana and South Dakota to Steele City, Nebraska.

“For decades, a primary policy goal of every presidential administration has been to put America in a position to sell energy to our friends and allies versus buy it from our enemies. Finally achieving this policy of U.S. energy independence in recent years due to American innovation and entrepreneurship has led to low energy prices that help working families keep more money in their pockets, a resurgence in American manufacturing jobs and the ability to bring our soldiers home. Now is not the time to abandon this essential strategy,” said Burgum.

“In North Dakota, we’ve experienced first-hand how major modern pipeline infrastructure and an all-of-the-above energy strategy can create high-paying jobs, strengthen the economy, move product to market in the safest and most efficient manner, and advance U.S. energy independence. The Keystone XL Pipeline accomplishes all of these goals, and revoking the permit is wrong for the country and has a chilling effect on private-sector investment in much-needed infrastructure projects, which is why we urge the president to reconsider,” Burgum said.

“We’re ready to work with the new administration on developing policies that support our state’s priorities, and we will continue to oppose policies that harm North Dakotans, especially our energy and agricultural producers,” he added.

Sen. John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said, “The Keystone XL Pipeline has been delayed for too long, forcing the energy industry to use transportation methods that are less efficient and more costly. This pipeline is a critical infrastructure project that is already under construction, providing good jobs to Americans and helping bolster economic growth. Not only that, this pipeline will help support North America’s energy security by reducing our reliance on Middle Eastern oil. Our nation needs to build, repair and modernize our infrastructure to remain competitive, and this vital project should continue.”

Sen. Kevin Cramer said, “Hours ago President Biden bemoaned the loss of millions of jobs and promised to put people back to work, but now he’s taking action to eliminate thousands more. This is an early mistake by the president and a nod to far-left environmental extremists. I urge him to reconsider his approach.”

In a letter sent earlier this week, Hoeven and Sen. Kevin Cramer joined Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and his colleagues in urging Biden to allow construction of the pipeline to continue, highlighting how the project aligns with a number of his administration’s priorities in supporting good-paying jobs. Hoeven will also be joining his colleagues in introducing legislation to allow construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline to continue.

The senators were joined on the letter by senators from Wyoming, John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis.

Congressman Kelly Armstrong’s comments following Biden’s first executive orders focused on energy-producing and agriculture states including North Dakota.

“President Biden’s decision to begin his administration by signing several executive orders aimed directly at agriculture and energy producing states like North Dakota is the wrong way to bring the unity he spoke of during his inauguration,” Armstrong said. “The United States has become a world energy leader because of commonsense decisions like moving forward with constructing the Keystone XL Pipeline, allowing responsible development of the ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) Coastal Plain, and removing our nation from the onerous and unfair Paris Climate Agreement.

“Biden’s plans to sideline vital energy infrastructure and bring us into a one-sided climate deal that further restricts our farmers and ranchers will only serve to push our country down while we are struggling to recover from a global pandemic. We know that our farmers, ranchers, and all North Dakotans care for the land and communities they are a part of, and they don’t need more burdensome federal regulations jeopardizing their livelihoods.”

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