From Ports-to-Plains Alliance

1.
News Release ‐ For Immediate Release
April 18, 2013
Contact: Michael Reeves
(806) 775‐2338
michael.reeves@portstoplains.com
Along Keystone XL Route, Local Officials Want Construction To Begin
Grand Island, NE ‐ Local elected officials living along the route of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline
urged the U.S. State Department to swiftly finish its review of environmental impact and signoff on
pipeline construction. Over two‐hundred officials signed the letter which was submitted at a public
hearing held here today. Each official represents a community in the region impacted by pipeline
construction.
"As leaders from the region that the Keystone XL pipeline will traverse, we applaud the thoroughness of
the approval process. The State Department draft EIS and the Nebraska Department of Environmental
Quality Supplemental EIS both find no significant environmental concerns that should prevent the
construction of this valuable project. We also know that TransCanada will construct the Keystone XL
with industry best practices that will meet or exceed all existing pipeline regulatory standards.
"The Keystone XL pipeline is clearly in the nation’s interest and will be a valuable tool in strengthening
our national security and energy security. Therefore, we respectfully request that upon completion of
this review period, the Department of States move expeditiously to approve the pipeline and grant
TransCanada the Presidential Permit it needs to proceed."
Keystone XL construction will:
 Create 46,000 new jobs according to the U.S. Department of State. TransCanada says it will hire
welders, mechanics, electricians, pipefitters, laborers, safety coordinators, heavy equipment
operators to complete construction.
 Capacity to deliver 830,000 barrels of new oil into the U.S. replacing imports from the Middle
East.
–more‐
Limon Office Lubbock Office
P.O. Box 9 5401 N MLK Blvd., Unit 395
Limon, CO 80828 Lubbock, TX 79403
P: 303.586.1787 P: 806.775.2338
F: 719.775.9073 Fax: 806.775.3981
www.portstoplains.com

2.
 Boost wages for construction workers by as much as 30% according to Bloomberg Government.
 TransCanada's $5.3 billion investment is the largest being proposed in the United States.
 TransCanada estimates construction and development of the Keystone XL and Gulf Coast
Pipeline Projects is anticipated to generate $20 billion in economic impact in the United States,
including $99 million in local government revenues and $486 million in state government
revenues during construction.
The U.S. Department of State is collecting input from the general public through April 22nd.
‐30‐
Limon Office Lubbock Office
P.O. Box 9 5401 N MLK Blvd., Unit 395
Limon, CO 80828 Lubbock, TX 79403
P: 303.586.1787 P: 806.775.2338
F: 719.775.9073 Fax: 806.775.3981
www.portstoplains.com