For the third year in a row energy played a central role in President Obama's State of the Union address, with the president leaning hard this year on the twin themes of increased domestic oil and gas production and the need to invest more in renewable sources.
Will Obama pay a political price for the Keystone Pipeline delay?
Senate Republicans are pushing legislation that would force the Obama administration to decide whether to permit the controversial Keystone XL pipeline within two months if passed.
Senate Republicans introduced a bill that would require the Secretary of State to issue a U.S. permit for the Keystone XL pipeline within 60 days. This still "provides adequate time for Nebraska to shift the route of the pipeline" while allowing construction to begin elsewhere.
The State Department on Thursday announced that it's punting a decision on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline until at least the first quarter of 2013. House Speaker John Boehner responded: "More than 20,000 new American jobs have just been sacrificed in the name of political expediency".
79 percent of registered voters said they would like to see America import more of the oil it needs from Canada, "rather than other foreign countries...if America continues to need to import some oil to meet our energy needs."
A big selling point for the Keystone XL pipeline is that its billions of barrels of Canadian crude oil would provide "energy security" for the United States, with a long-term, reliable supply of petroleum from a friendly ally. But some critics of the pipeline are saying much of the oil could end up as gasoline and diesel fuel exported to Europe and Latin America.
And jobs can come to our state too. If approved, construction and support of the Keystone XL pipeline can bring thousands of American jobs.
In 2011, the International Monetary Fund estimates Canada will grow at 2.9%; and unemployment is now 7.3%. One explanation for Canada's more robust growth is its strong commitment to energy. Alberta is now producing two million barrels per day but expects that number will grow to four to five million within a decade.
TransCanada's proposed Keystone XL Pipeline will be the safest crude oil pipeline built in America, according to officials of the Calgary-based company.
