The Illinois public needs to increase pressure on the White House to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline. Despite the recent State Department report concluding that the pipeline would not impact climate change, the Obama administration continues to stall approval of the project, citing “environmental concerns.” Illinoisans need to be concerned over the delay because it threatens our economic recovery efforts.
According to the State Dept. “Project spending would support approximately 42,100 jobs” and “$2 billion in earnings…” The authors of the report considered not only direct-hiring by Keystone, but also a range of factors including the purchasing of project supplies, and workers’ spent wages, to determine the net impact on the workforce. Many Americans are already in line to benefit from the project, which is estimated to contribute “$3.4 billion,” to the U.S. GDP. Illinoisans would be missing out on a vital economic opportunity if the project isn’t approved.
There is increasing bi-partisan support for this initiative. I would urge concerned citizens to add your voice. Please reach out to your U.S. House and Senate representatives and let them know the pipeline is vital to our economic revival. I’m pleased that my own Congressman, Peter Roskam, is actively working towards the approval of the project.
