Sabrina Fang | 202.682.8114 | fangs@api.org

WASHINGTON, July 22, 2011 ─ API is encouraged to see the administration move the ball forward on the Keystone XL pipeline decision.  The State Department is now entering the final phase of its environmental assessment and will schedule public hearings in several states along the pipeline route in September.

“This is a shovel ready project, the sooner the State Department reaches a favorable decision on the pipeline, the sooner Americans will be put to work,” said API Executive Vice President Marty Durbin.  “Not only will thousands of jobs be created by the pipeline’s construction and operation, there will be a substantial increase in government revenue, and the means to significantly enhance our nation’s energy security.”

Increased investment in Canadian oil will create more than 500,000 new U.S. jobs by 2035, according to the Canadian Energy Research Institute (CERI).

“Nearly 1000 U.S. businesses in 47 states already provide services, materials or equipment to Canada in support of oil sands development,” said Durbin. “We have a critical decision to make, we cannot afford to pass on a major job creating project. We need to approve this pipeline and gain access to a significant energy supply from a friendly, secure neighbor.  This is energy we know our nation will need for decades to come.  It’s time to put American jobs and American energy security first.”

API represents more than 470 oil and natural gas companies, leaders of a technology-driven industry that supplies most of America’s energy, supports 9.2 million U.S. jobs and 7.7percent of the U.S. economy, delivers $86million 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.