Joe Oliver, Canada’s minister for natural resources, making the case for approval and construction of the full Keystone XL pipeline – on economic and environmental grounds – at IHS CERAWeek:

“By any objective measure the most responsible source (for imported oil) is Canada. … There’s enough oil in the oil sands to meet the U.S. need for imported oil for at least the next 100 years. This could mean, with additional U.S. oil, independence for North America by 2030. What a great thing energy independence would be for both our countries.”

Oliver’s economic/strategic case:

• The U.S. gets more imported oil from Canada than anywhere else in the world – more than the combined imports from Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. Ninety-nine percent of Canada’s crude oil exports and 100 percent of... more »

Another “face” of the Keystone XL pipeline project is Billy Rogers, an employee of the Michels Corporation and a member of the Operating Engineers Local 139. Rogers is among 4,000 U.S. workers already building the southern leg of Keystone XL in Texas and Oklahoma – which didn’t need presidential approval to move forward. Rogers talked to reporters at an event on Tuesday hosted by the National Association of Manufacturers:

"Working on the Gulf Coast Project has afforded me a good income that allows me to support my family. In addition, the construction of this project has had a significant impact in the local communities in which we work as the hundreds of crew members spend their money locally in restaurants, grocery stores, shops – everyone is benefiting. … Contrary to what people... more »

Americans want the Keystone XL pipeline built. There’s no mistaking that in polling, including a new one we’ll get into down below.

Of all the Americans who’ve waited more than four years for the president to give the full Keystone XL the go-ahead, few have more on the line than thousands of building and construction workers. For them it’s bread on the table. Sean McGarvey, president of the AFL-CIO’s Building and Construction Trade Department, talked to reporters this week about his union’s support for the project's approval:

“For the skilled craft professionals that I am privileged to represent, the past four years have not been a recession, they have been a depression. Today, the unemployment rate in the U.S. construction industry is 16 percent.”

API President and CEO Jack Ge... more »

Quick facts about the Keystone XL pipeline project and Canada’s oil sands resources:

• Construction of the Keystone XL would generate 20,000 jobs during that phase, according to builder TransCanada.

• Oil sands development associated with the Keystone XL could support 117,000 new U.S. jobs by 2035, according to the Canadian Energy Research Institute (CERI).

• New oil sands development could support more than 500,000 additional U.S. jobs by 2035 (CERI).

• $20 billion could be injected into the U.S. economy by the full Keystone XL project, which would pay more than $5 billion in taxes to local counties over its life.

• The full Keystone XL pipeline will be able to transport 830,000 barrels of North American oil per day – from Canada’s oil sands region as well as the Bakken fields... more »

Two pieces of new polling info linked to the Keystone XL pipeline.

First, Rasmussen reports that the project, after more than four years on the Obama administration’s “to do” list, enjoys support from 59 percent of those surveyed. Just 28 percent oppose. Strong supporters (34 percent) outnumber strong opponents (10 percent) by more than three to one. There’s been strong support for the Keystone XL in polls by Fox News and Pew Research.

Speaking of Pew, last week they released another of their periodic surveys showing the issues Americans think are most important as President Obama and Congress get to work this year. Topping the list is strengthening the economy (86 percent say it’s a “top priority”), followed by improving the job situation (79 percent) and reducing the budget deficit... more »