Why Isn't ALEC Bragging About Their Part in the XL Pipeline?

Why Isn't ALEC Bragging About Their Part in the XL Pipeline?

Why?

They hide behind blogs written on an ALEC supported webpage - but they don't have the guts to come out and state that ALEC state legislators at the state and federal level are helping move the XL Pipeline along.

Bunch of cowards - hiding in the shadows.

A one paragraph snip – if you want to read the whole thing – go find it – I’m not going to link to it.

Alberta Bound: Observations from the Canadian Oil Sands

ALEC Blog Team | April 3, 2013 | Add a comment

Alberta Bound: Observations from the Canadian Oil Sands

By the Honorable John Piscopo, CT (HD-76)

ALEC National Chair

Like everyone else, I had heard about the vast reserves of crude oil in Canada called the “Oil Sands,” so I jumped at the chance when given the opportunity to tour and learn more about them. I flew to Calgary in the Province of Alberta, where my first impression of the people was a genuine friendliness in the midst of a city experiencing dramatic and rapid growth. Our small group of nine ALEC member legislators and ALEC’s International Relations Task Force Director met in the hotel lobby and walked from there to our first stop at the headquarters of pipeline manufacturer and operator, TransCanada, to learn about the pipeline itself. Company representatives gave us a quick overview of the company, its products, and safety procedures stressing their exemplary safety track record. They are responsible for pipelines that already go the distance through Canada, and much of the US. To say I was impressed is an understatement.

Who paid for that trip?

ALEC Corporate member TransCanada?

The one thing that has puzzled me is

Why isn’t the American Legislative Exchange Council acknowledging their part in the XL Pipeline, publicly – braying about their success to this point?

After all

ALEC Boasts that it has

2,000  state legislators that support ALEC policy

96  members of the US Congress that support ALEC policy

ALEC DOES NOT BOAST ABOUT

the number of other state federal officials

who support ALEC policy

which could be a major issue for America.

From the Common Cause documents

July 2010

ALEC

Natural Resources Task Force Member

Beth Jensen

Private Sector Member (M1)

Manager, Government Relations

TransCanada

13710 FNB Parkway

Omaha, NE 68154

Phone: 402.492.3400 FAX: 402.492.7491

Then in

November of 2011

Resolution in Support of the Keystone 1 XL Pipeline BE IT RESOLVED BY THE [INSERT LEGISLATIVE BODY] OF THE STATE OF [INSERT STATE]:

WHEREAS, The United States relies – and will continue to rely for many years – on gasoline, diesel and jet fuel despite the recent focus on renewable and alternative sources of energy. In order to fuel our economy, the United States will need more oil and natural gas while also requiring additional alternative energy sources such as ethanol and other renewable energy sources; and

WHEREAS, The United States currently depends on foreign imports for more than half of our petroleum usage. As the largest consumer of petroleum in the world, our dependence on overseas oil has created difficult geopolitical relationships with damaging consequences for our national security; and

WHEREAS, oil shale deposits in the Bakken Reserves in Montana and North Dakota and South Dakota are an increasingly important crude oil resource, with an estimated 11 billion barrels of recoverable crude oil, and there is not enough pipeline capacity for crude oil supplies from Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas to American refineries; and

WHEREAS, Canadian oil reserves contain an estimated 173 billion barrels of recoverable oil. Canada is the single largest supplier of oil to the United States at 2.62 million barrels per day and has the capacity to significantly increase that rate; and 7

WHEREAS, the Keystone XL pipeline will, when completed, carry 700,000 barrels of North American oil to American refineries in the Gulf Coast region and construction of the project will create 120,000 jobs nationwide, create $20 billion in economic growth and generate millions of dollars worth of government receipts; and

WHEREAS, A recent study by the U.S. Department of Energy found that increasing delivery to American refineries from Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Alberta, as well as Texas and Oklahoma to American refineries has the potential to substantially reduce our country's dependency on sources outside of North America; and

WHEREAS, Canada sends more than 99% of its oil exports to the United States, the bulk of which goes to Midwestern refineries. Oil companies are investing huge sums to expand and upgrade refineries in the Midwest and elsewhere to make gasoline and other refined products from Canadian oil derived from oil sands. The expansion and upgrade projects will create many new construction jobs over the next five years and, in [INSERT STATE], substantially add to our state's gross state product; and

WHEREAS, The same money used to buy North American oil will likely later be spent directly on U.S. goods and services in contrast with the money sent to hostile oil-producing governments that is later used to further anti-democratic agendas. Supporting the continued shift towards reliable and secure sources of North American oil is of vital interest to the United States and the state of [INSERT STATE].

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the members of the [INSERT LEGISLATIVE BODY] of the state of [INSERT STATE], support continued and increased development and delivery of oil derived from North American oil reserves to American refineries, urge Congress to support that continued and increased development and delivery, and urge Congress to ask the U.S. Secretary of State to approve the Keystone XL pipeline project that has been awaiting a presidential permit since 2008 to reduce dependence on unstable governments, improve our national security, and strengthen ties with an important ally; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the [INSERT STATE LEGISLATIVE BODY] transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, to the President Pro Tempore and Secretary of the United States Senate, to the members of the [INSERT STATE] Congressional delegation, and to the news media of [INSERT STATE].

ALEC Boasts that it has

2,000 state legislators that support ALEC policy - which would include the ALEC policy on the XL pipeline

96  members of the US Congress that support ALEC policy - which would include the ALEC policy on the XL pipeline

ALEC DOES NOT BOAST ABOUT

The number of other state federal officials

who support ALEC policy

which could be a major issue for America.

And then you have this post on the same ALEC blogsite

The Keystone XL – Excuses for Inaction Are Disappearing Fast

It’s time for the President to approve the Keystone XL Project thus taking advantage of an opportunity that will create American jobs, enhance U.S. energy security, have minimal environmental impact along its route and avoid unnecessarily straining U.S.-Canada Relations.

Don’t know who/what ALEC is?

It is time you did!!!

For lots of info about the American Legislative Exchange Council

check out this webpage

ALEC Exposed