The latest was released on March 1, 2013, after nearly five years of permitting delays, and once again the State Department has confirmed that Keystone XL would be a safe, technologically advanced pipeline project.

This critical piece of infrastructure would deliver supplies of Canadian crude oil sands to Gulf of Mexico, strengthening U.S. energy security while creating huge benefits for America’s economy. From jobs for pipefitters in Nebraska, construction workers in Oklahoma and refinery workers in Texas, among countless others -- the construction phase of the pipeline alone could create as many as 20,000 American jobs.

The Keystone XL pipeline would also strengthen ties between the United States and Canada – one of our greatest allies. With a reliable and stable trading partner like Canada and increased U.S. production, America could get 100 percent of its liquid fuel needs from North American energy sources by 2024.

As Canadian oil sands production and investment increases, demand for U.S. goods and services also rises. The project would stimulate $20 billion in new spending in the U.S. economy and add $170 billion to the economy over the next 25 years. And for every dollar America spends on Canadian oil, almost 90 cents returns to the United States through Canadian purchases of U.S. goods and services. No other trade partner provides such a strong return.

As a March Wall Street Journal editorial put it: "If Mr. Obama turns down Keystone XL, the Chinese will be laughing at us as they buy Canadian oil and build their economic power, while America adapts to the Sierra Club's preferred future of the world as Walden Pond."

The benefits of the Keystone XL are clear – and they have been for more than four years. The scientific evidence is also clear -- the facts have been researched, studied and scrutinized, and according to the State Department’s SEIS and the numerous studies before it, there are no compelling reasons to delay approval of the Keystone XL pipeline any longer.

At least 2,400 U.S.-based companies in 49 states support the development of Canadian oil sands, and know the Keystone XL pipeline is critical to providing a safe and efficient means of transporting increased oil production to market.

Stand with them and tell the State Department to approve the Keystone XL pipeline.

The latest was released on March 1, 2013, after nearly five years of permitting delays, and once again the State Department has confirmed that Keystone XL would be a safe, technologically advanced pipeline project.

This critical piece of infrastructure would deliver supplies of Canadian crude oil sands to Gulf of Mexico, strengthening U.S. energy security while creating huge benefits for America’s economy. From jobs for pipefitters in Nebraska, construction workers in Oklahoma and refinery workers in Texas, among countless others – the construction phase of the pipeline alone could create as many as 20,000 American jobs.

The Keystone XL pipeline would also strengthen ties between the United States and Canada – one of our greatest allies. With a reliable and stable trading partner like Canada and increased U.S. production, America could get 100 percent of its liquid fuel needs from North American energy sources by 2024.

As Canadian oil sands production and investment increases, demand for U.S. goods and services also rises. The project would stimulate $20 billion in new spending in the U.S. economy and add $170 billion to the economy over the next 25 years. And for every dollar America spends on Canadian oil, almost 90 cents returns to the United States through Canadian purchases of U.S. goods and services. No other trade partner provides such a strong return.

As a March Wall Street Journal editorial put it: "If Mr. Obama turns down Keystone XL, the Chinese will be laughing at us as they buy Canadian oil and build their economic power, while America adapts to the Sierra Club's preferred future of the world as Walden Pond."

The benefits of the Keystone XL are clear – and they have been for more than four years. The scientific evidence is also clear – the facts have been researched, studied and scrutinized, and according to the State Department’s SEIS and the numerous studies before it, there are no compelling reasons to delay approval of the Keystone XL pipeline any longer.

At least 2,400 U.S.-based companies in 49 states support the development of Canadian oil sands, and know the Keystone XL pipeline is critical to providing a safe and efficient means of transporting increased oil production to market.

Stand with them and tell the State Department to approve the Keystone XL pipeline.

Canada sends more than 99 percent of its oil exports to the United States, the bulk of which goes to Midwestern refineries for refining and processing. Oil from Canada is mainly transmitted to these refineries and other locations in the United States through oil pipelines. Pipelines remain the safest way to move energy products in the United States and Canada.

What could the crude oil from Canadian oil sands mean to the United States?

Job Creation

A recent study found that more than 600,000 new jobs could be created here through a full utilization of Canada’s oil sands. One pipeline construction project alone--the Keystone XL Pipeline--, which will increase the amount of Canadian oil coming into the U.S., is projected to create 20,000 construction and manufacturing jobs here in America.

Energy Security

The U.S. and Canada already enjoy the largest trading partnership across the longest peaceful border in the world. Sourcing more of our energy from a friendly, democratic and North American neighbor will help reduce U.S. reliance on energy resources from elsewhere. While the U.S. should expand the use of its own resources, imported oil will continue to play a key role in meeting energy demand and oil from Canada can help meet the supply and demand challenges.

Environmental Protection

The Canadian government has in place stringent controls to protect the surrounding environment as oil is extracted. An additional consideration is that if Canadian oil is not transported to and refined in the U.S., it could be exported to other countries, many of which do not have the same stringent environmental regulations that are in place here in the United States. China, for example, has been actively seeking energy resources from around the globe and is considered a likely buyer of any Canadian oil not coming to the U.S.

Tell Secretary Kerry: U.S. government policies should encourage the expanded use of Canadian oil.

• Construction of the Keystone XL would generate 20,000 jobs during that phase, according to builder TransCanada.

• Oil sands development associated with the Keystone XL could support 117,000 new U.S. jobs by 2035, according to the Canadian Energy Research Institute (CERI).

• New oil sands development could support more than 500,000 additional U.S. jobs by 2035 (CERI).

• $20 billion could be injected into the U.S. economy by the full Keystone XL project, which would pay more than $5 billion in taxes to local counties over its life.

• The full Keystone XL pipeline will be able to transport 830,000 barrels of North American oil per day – from Canada’s oil sands region as well as the Bakken fields in the U.S.

These are critical points in the debate over the pipeline and whether the United States will strengthen its energy partnership with Canada, our No. 1 supplier of imported oil. This infrastructure and full development of oil sands crude could let us see 100 percent of our liquid fuel needs met by North American sources by 2024.

Tell the State Department to stand with the public and approve the Keystone XL pipeline.

• More than 61,065 statewide jobs provided or supported – with an average salary of $74,538 for non-gas station oil and natural gas employees.
• $3.4 billion contributed to state labor income.
• $7 billion contributed to the state’s economy.

With sensible energy development and sound tax policies, here’s what the oil and natural gas industry could mean to Wyoming:

• 61,289 additional jobs created by 2015.
• 67,110 additional jobs created by 2020.
• An average of $201 million of new, additional revenue generated by the industry to the state every year through 2030. That’s enough to cover 40 percent of Wyoming’s general fund contribution to the Department of Public Safety and Corrections every year, without using additional taxpayer dollars.

Energy works in Wyoming, with the men and women of the oil and natural gas industry playing a critical role in the state’s economy.

• More than 94,060 statewide jobs provided or supported – with an average salary of $56,464 for non-gas station oil and natural gas employees.
• $4 billion contributed to state labor income.
• $7 billion contributed to the state’s economy.

With sensible energy development and sound tax policies, here’s what the oil and natural gas industry could mean to Wisconsin:

• 3,046 additional jobs created by 2015.
• 21,157 additional jobs created by 2020.

Energy works in Wisconsin, with the men and women of the oil and natural gas industry playing a critical role in the state’s economy.

• More than 63,306 statewide jobs provided or supported – with an average salary of $61,546 for non-gas station oil and natural gas employees.
• $2.9 billion contributed to state labor income.
• $5.9 billion contributed to the state’s economy.

With sensible energy development and sound tax policies, here’s what the oil and natural gas industry could mean to Maryland:

• 5,487 additional jobs created by 2015.
• 7,037 additional jobs created by 2020.
• An average of $15.5 million of new, additional revenue generated by the industry to the state every year through 2030. That’s enough to cover West Virginia's Department of Veteren's Affairs Department every year, without using additional taxpayer dollars.

Energy works in West Virginia, with the men and women of the oil and natural gas industry playing a critical role in the state’s economy.

• More than 109,195 statewide jobs provided or supported – with an average salary of $77,582 for non-gas station oil and natural gas employees.
• $6.1 billion contributed to state labor income.
• $12.2 billion contributed to the state’s economy.

With sensible energy development and sound tax policies, here’s what the oil and natural gas industry could mean to Washington:

• 2,110 additional jobs created by 2015.
• 5,708 additional jobs created by 2020.
• An average of $13 million of new, additional revenue generated by the industry to the state every year through 2030. That’s enough to cover nearly all of Washington's general fund contribution to the Department of Veteran Affairs every year, without using additional taxpayer dollars.

Energy works in Washington, with the men and women of the oil and natural gas industry playing a critical role in the state’s economy.

• More than 13,591 statewide jobs provided or supported – with an average salary of $44,421 for non-gas station oil and natural gas employees.
• $512 million contributed to state labor income.
• $960 million contributed to the state’s economy.

With sensible energy development and sound tax policies, here’s what the oil and natural gas industry could mean to Vermont:

• 78 additional jobs created by 2015.
• 163 additional jobs created by 2020.

Energy works in Vermont, with the men and women of the oil and natural gas industry playing a critical role in the state’s economy.

• More than 78,425 statewide jobs provided or supported – with an average salary of $73,186 for non-gas station oil and natural gas employees.
• $3.8 billion contributed to state labor income.
• $8 billion contributed to the state’s economy.

With sensible energy development and sound tax policies, here’s what the oil and natural gas industry could mean to Utah:

• 26,554 additional jobs created by 2015.
• 49,304 additional jobs created by 2020.
• An average of $255 million of new, additional revenue generated by the industry to the state every year through 2030. That’s enough to cover 85 percent of Utah’s general fund contribution to its Health Department every year, without using additional taxpayer dollars.

Energy works in Utah, with the men and women of the oil and natural gas industry playing a critical role in the state’s economy.