Manufacturers President’s Rejection of Keystone XL a Blow to Economy

Washington, D.C., 01/18/12 -  National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons issued a statement regarding the Obama Administration’s rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline project:

“The President’s rejection of the Keystone XL project is a serious blow to job creation and a major setback to energy security. The decision to say no to a project that would create 20,000 manufacturing and construction jobs – with an additional 118,000 indirect jobs – defies logic when the U.S. is suffering from high unemployment and a struggling economy. For America’s future, it’s always better to choose sound policy over politics. Instead the Administration followed the political winds and rejected a clear way to create jobs.

The Administration has exhaustively reviewed the environmental impact of the pipeline for more than three years and has definitively concluded that no significant risks stand in the way of constructing the pipeline. The President knows this and manufacturers are deeply disappointed that he has chosen to ignore this fact.

Manufacturers are critical to the American economy and use one-third of our nation’s energy supply. Consistent and affordable energy is critical to their ability to remain competitive in the global marketplace. Why turn away from a secure, reliable source of energy that doesn’t originate from a volatile, potentially hostile area of the world?

The NAM will continue to work to ensure that this energy resource is developed and that the jobs and economic benefits that accompany Keystone XL are delivered to manufacturers in the U.S. We’ll work with Congress to ensure that sound policy triumphs over politics in this matter.”