Texas Railroad applauds start of Gulf Coast pipeline operations

Texas Railroad Commission Chairman Barry Smitherman will speak in Beaumont this week, during ceremonies marking the start of operation of TransCanada’s Gulf Coast pipeline project, which will deliver economic benefits, strengthen energy security and protect natural resources.

"Texans understand the importance of pipelines to our state and nation, and we recognise the crucial role the Gulf Coast pipeline will have beyond the borders of our state," said Chairman Smirtherman.

“The Gulf Coast pipeline will create thousands of jobs, will generate millions of dollars in tax revenue for years to come, is the safest way to deliver oil to markets that demand it, and will help fuel our state and national economies for decades to come,” he said.

“On behalf of the Texas Railroad Commission and the people of Texas, I welcome the Gulf Coast pipeline project and look forward to hearing that the Keystone XL Pipeline, its northern leg, is approved as soon as possible in Washington, DC.”

Smitherman pointed out that the Gulf Coast pipeline project will transport growing supplies of US and Canadian oil that will replace oil from unreliable sources in the Middle East and Venezuela. It will also assist producers in the Permian Basin and the Panhandle, who face transportation bottlenecks so that they can ship product to where it is needed.

Smitherman said the same positive impact the Gulf Coast Pipeline brought to Texas and Oklahoma during construction will continue during its operation. This same result can be reproduced in Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska with approval of the Presidential Permit needed to build Keystone XL.

“It’s clear to me and it’s clear to the vast majority of Americans that the President should approve Keystone XL without further delay,” said Smitherman. “In Texas, we find it hard to understand how, after five exhaustive reviews, over five years, which no other pipeline in the United States has had to endure, Keystone XL still isn’t approved,” he said.

Chairman Smitherman said the Department of State’s most recent environmental impact statement, released on 31^st January, again confirmed that Keystone XL would have minimal impact on the environment. “This should eliminate any doubt about the Gulf Coast Project’s sister pipeline to the north,” he said.

“As with the Gulf Coast Pipeline, I believe Keystone XL is in the nation’s best interest because it will strengthen US energy security and create thousands of jobs and extended economic benefits.”

“It’s time to build Keystone XL.”

Adapted from press release by Hannah Priestley-Eaton

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/27022014/chairman_applauds_commencement_of_transcanada_gulf_coast_pipeline_operations/