GAIN Coalition Statement on Keystone XL Ruling
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled yesterday the Keystone XL Pipeline can proceed with construction, overturning a lower court’s ruling that had put the project on hold. This decision comes after President Trump recently issued a Presidential permit for the pipeline project, which will connect Albertan oil fields to refiners along the Gulf coast. The legal battle now returns to the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana, where opponents are calling on Judge Brian Morris to strike down the President’s permit.
Below is a statement that can be attributed to me, Craig Stevens, spokesman for the GAIN Coalition.
“The GAIN Coalition commends the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling allowing construction on the Keystone XL Pipeline to proceed. From protests to extraneous legal challenges, pipeline opponents press on in their efforts to stymie permitted projects like Keystone XL. Judicial overreach in regard to pipeline permits has become an alarming trend. Regulatory agencies with career professionals exist at the state and federal level to analyze and approve our nation’s energy infrastructure. Regulatory certainty and a thorough, yet straightforward permitting process is key for future investment in our critical energy infrastructure network.”