The Keystone XL pipeline would carry tar sands from Canada to U.S. refineries on the Gulf Coast. | File photo
The Keystone XL pipeline would carry tar sands from Canada to U.S. refineries on the Gulf Coast. | File photo
U.S. Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) joined his colleagues Greg Waldon (R-OR) and Fred Upton (R-MI) in applauding President Donald Trump's executive action approving the Keystone and Dakota Access oil pipelines.
"We’re looking forward to working with a president and an administration that value American energy affordability, jobs, security and new infrastructure development,” they said. “It is time for the federal government to stop picking winners and losers in the energy sector.”
Despite months of protests by Native Americans and other activists -- some of whom fear the pipeline will contaminate the drinking water of those living downstream and damage burial grounds and sacred sites -- the order will allow the Energy Transfer Partners LP Dakota Access pipeline to advance. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had blocked the final permit for the pipeline.
The Canadian-owned Keystone XL pipeline was also approved by the executive order. President Barack Obama had vetoed the TransCanada Corp. project last year. The pipeline would carry tar sands from Canada to U.S. refineries on the Gulf Coast.
The president also signed an executive action that would expedite the environmental reviews needed for infrastructure projects that are considered a high priority.
Shimkus chairs the Subcommittee on Environment; Walden is the Energy and Commerce Committee chairman; and Upton is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy.
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