In a move that was telegraphed by his radical choices in appointments, President-Elect Joe Biden plans to use one of his first executive orders to rescind the federal permits required to complete the Keystone XL Pipeline project.
A briefing note from the Biden transition team to stakeholders in the United States, a copy of which was attained by the Canadian Broadcasting Company, mentioned the termination of the project by name.
The CBC reports that the words “Rescind Keystone XL pipeline permit” were included in an item action memo slated to evolve not executive order actions scheduled for the first day of Mr. Biden’s presidency.
The information has since been confirmed by several major media outlets.
Joe Biden plans to pull Keystone XL pipeline permit on first day in office https://t.co/OALEX7yC2t pic.twitter.com/pwMzBuWZR6
— New York Post (@nypost) January 18, 2021
The Keystone XL pipeline, when completed, would have carried 830,000 barrels of crude oil a day from Hardisty, Alberta, Canada, to Nebraska. It would then connect with the original Keystone pipeline that runs to Gulf Coast refineries in the southern United States.
In a statement released on Twitter, the Premier of Alberta, Jason Kenny, stated, “The Keystone XL pipeline also represents tens of thousands of good paying jobs that the American economy needs right now. That is why major American labor unions who supported President-elect Biden’s campaign strongly back the project, as do First Nations who have signed partnership agreements, and all state governments along the pipeline route.”
I am deeply concerned by reports that the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden may repeal the Presidential permit for the Keystone XL border crossing next week.
My full statement: pic.twitter.com/vZjun1IdMH
— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) January 18, 2021
In an economy already crippled by the politics of the COVID pandemic, the loss of jobs related to the Keystone XL pipeline here in the United States – as well as the off-shoot jobs created by industries that support its construction – will only serve to facilitate the further erosion of the US economy.
Additionally, as the crude oil prices rise, gas prices will continue to venture upward across the country. The national average, according to AAA, increased by 4.2 cents per gallon to a $2.39 per gallon on Monday.
The head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, Patrick DeHaan, said terminating the Keystone XL pipeline will cause almost certainly facilitate the continued rise in gas prices.
“For now, the upward trend in gas prices may slow from the sharp rise in the last week, but motorists shouldn’t expect much of a break from rising gas prices, which now stand less than twenty cents from their year-ago levels,” DeHaan said.
https://twitter.com/GasBuddyGuy/status/1350958639989862401
The Biden team has not answered direct media inquiries regarding their plans on Keystone XL pipeline termination.
