Daines Calls On Biden To Reauthorize Construction Of Keystone XL Pipeline

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., is urging President Joe Biden to reauthorize construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.

“President Biden set us on a dangerous path when he decided to kill the Keystone XL pipeline on Day One in office,” Daines said in a press release last week. “What’s happening in Russia and Europe is a stark reminder of the need to support American energy development, not hinder it. Energy security is national security, and a global energy dominant America is a safer world. Biden must restart the Keystone XL pipeline now.”

Biden made the decision to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline during his first week in office.

First proposed in 2008, the 1,700 pipeline was planned to carry roughly 800,000 barrels of oil a day from Alberta to the Texas Gulf Coast.

The Montana route included running from Phillips County to the southeast corner of Fallon County including the counties of Valley, Mc-Cone, Dawson and Prairie.

A multi-state lawsuit challenging President Biden’s cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline project was dismissed by a federal judge on Jan. 6, 2022.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Vincent Brown, an appointee by former President Donald Trump, ruled that TC Energy’s decision to end the $8 billion project in June means the court has no jurisdiction to consider the lawsuit in the Southern District of Texas. “Because it is dead, any ruling this court makes on whether President Biden had the authority to revoke the permit would be advisory. Thus, the court has no jurisdiction and the case must be dismissed as moot.”

Daines expressed his disappointment with the ruling at that time. “Joe Biden declared war on Made in America energy on Day One by killing the Keystone XL pipeline. Now, Montanans are paying the price. While it’s very disappointing to see this case thrown out, I’m glad to see Attorney General Knudsen put up a hard fight,” Daines said.

The senator called for passage of his SMART Energy Act last week.

“According to the Energy Information Administration, Montanans who heat their homes with natural gas are expected to pay almost 24 percent more this winter than last winter. This trend is only going to get worse if we pass the Democrats’ reckless tax and spend bill. The reckless tax and spend bill slaps Montana businesses with new fees, taxes and regulations that will drive energy prices up and kill jobs,” Daines said during a hearting of the U.S. Energy and Natural Resources committee last week.

Daines’ bill aims to support America’s energy independence and energy jobs by requiring the Biden administration to immediately restart oil and gas leasing and promote domestic oil, gas, wind, solar and geothermal production on federal lands and waters.

“Biden’s war on Made in Montana and Made in America Energy is crushing U.S. energy independence, killing American jobs, and sending us head first into a European- style energy crisis with sky high energy prices. We must do what we can to bring back Made in America energy jobs and restore our global energy dominance by supporting an all-of-the-above energy portfolio which includes oil, gas, wind, solar and more,” Daines said.