Walden applauds, Merkley boos Keystone XL Pipeline OK

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, applauded Friday’s Trump administration approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, but Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., was sharply critical of the move.

First, Walden’s statement::

“We’ve turned a new page under this administration. Gone are the days of the federal government needlessly holding back development of our natural resources and our infrastructure. Now we can begin to roll-back red tape and enact policies that create good-paying jobs in Oregon and across the nation.

“A key component to modernizing our energy infrastructure and keeping up with the nation’s growing production of oil and gas will be ensuring projects aren’t bogged down in permitting delays — like Keystone XL pipeline was for so long. We’re looking forward to continuing to work on enacting policies that promote sensible American energy production and benefit Oregon consumers.”

Here’s Merkley’s statement:

“The State Department’s decision to approve Keystone XL is an unacceptable assault on anyone who cares about clean water and a livable planet. Here’s what it means for you and your family: dirty water, dirty air and sicker kids.

“At a time when we are already seeing major climate impacts that are hurting our farming, fishing and forest industries in Oregon, turning on the tap to the dirtiest fossil fuels in the world is a huge mistake.”

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GasBuddy, the citizen-reported gas-price service that fuels KTVZ’COM’s Pump Patrol, has analysts who also weighed in on the pipeline approval”:

GasBuddy Senior U.S. Petroleum Analyst Patrick DeHaan noted:

“After years of various delays, President Trump’s administration has issued a permit for the completion of the long-awaited Keystone XL pipeline. While the impact on gasoline prices may not be immediately known or felt, the pipeline will allow more U.S. refiners to process Canadian crude oil and reduce reliance on foreign supply, while helping Canadians secure their energy future. It may also bring a side effect of causing the typically discounted Canadian crude oil prices to rise, as more refiners and customers seek out Canadian crude oil. The impact may be felt most by refiners that already process a significant portion of such crude oil, as the low price of Canadian oil is likely to rise.

“Certainly, this move is a positive one for Canadian oil interests, as it will likely boost the value of the Canadian Dollar while bringing more jobs to the energy sector there. Interestingly, it could also allow- for the first time- Canadian oil shipments access to global markets previously unreachable.

“U.S. motorists are unlikely to feel an immediate impact at the pump as a result, but with the new possibilities the pipeline brings, there is no guarantee that there won’t be future impacts to fuel prices.

GasBuddy Senior Canadian Petroleum Analyst Dan McTeague noted:

“For Canadian oil producers, today ‘s decision by the US President to overturn his predecessor’s veto and allow construction of the Keystone XL pipeline is welcomed news. The decision to allow Keystone XL’s construction isn’t about sending Canadian oil to waiting ships in the Gulf of Mexico, it is about ensuring U.S. refiners, who’ve invested in processing heavy oil, access to a reliable and abundant supply that responds to America’s energy needs. Today ‘s decision is a win-win for the world’s most integrated energy partnership, the U.S. and Canada. It brings North America one step closer to energy security and more stable pricing at the pumps.”