The Keystone XL Lifeline
Mark Green
Posted October 7, 2011
For some the proposed Keystone XL pipeline is symbolic, standing for a reliance on oil and natural gas products they don't like - even though oil and gas run our economy and will run it for decades to come, according to the government.
Yet, there's a group of people for whom the Keystone XL isn't an abstraction: working men and women eager to take some of the real jobs the 1,700-mile pipeline would bring to the U.S. (along with Canadian oil). Laborers' International Union of North America President Terrence O'Sullivan spoke at a press conference on the day of the State Department's last public hearing on the project:
"For the men and women of our union, the Keystone XL's not just a pipeline, it's a lifeline. ... It's a Depression-like situation for construction workers throughout our great country. ... Our country needs to do more of this, matching men and women who need work with work that needs to be done."
API President and CEO Jack Gerard also spoke at the press conference, calling the Keystone XL the "largest shovel-ready project in America today." Gerard said the project is at the heart of potentially doubling the amount of oil the U.S. receives from Canada. "The United States and Canada together could become energy self-sufficient in 15 years," he said. "In the national interest? Absolutely."
Video from O'Sullivan's statement is below. Gerard video is here.
About The Author
Mark Green joined API after a career in newspaper journalism, including 16 years as national editorial writer for The Oklahoman in the paper’s Washington bureau. Previously, Mark was a reporter, copy editor and sports editor at an assortment of newspapers. He earned his journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma and master’s in journalism and public affairs from American University. He and his wife Pamela have two grown children and six grandchildren.