Washington, DC – Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement on the executive orders signed today by President Donald Trump advancing the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipeline projects:
“Allowing the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines to move forward is yet another example of President Trump putting fossil fuel interests first, ahead of the wellbeing of the American people.
“The Keystone XL Pipeline would be a disaster for Americans’ health and our environment, both now and for generations to come. The State Department has already made clear that building this pipeline to pump tar sands oil, one of the filthiest fossil fuels on earth, would be like putting six million cars on the road for a half century. And with continued low oil prices, the industry’s own analysis shows this project just isn’t economical.
“The only plausible explanation for jamming it through is that the Trump Administration wants to prop up its fossil fuel industry backers. No matter what the President tweets, climate change is not a hoax, this pipeline will do irreparable harm, and it should never be allowed to move forward.”
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