Oil Industry: Energy Issues, Keystone Pipeline Should Be Top of Mind for Voters

Domestic energy production should be a major part of the 2012 election discussion, says the nation’s largest trade association for the oil and natural gas industry. The American Petroleum Institute (API) on Wednesday launched a “Vote 4 Energy” campaign “that will help Americans understand what’s at stake and why energy issues should figure prominently in their voting decisions,” API President and CEO Jack Gerard said. Pressure is mounting on President Obama to make a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline, which – when completed – would bring crude oil from Canada to refineries in the U.S. Gulf Coast.  By law (a provision inserted into the bill extending the payroll tax cut), Obama has 47 days left to accept or reject the Keystone pipeline extension. Further adding to the pressure on Obama, the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee has posted an online clock to draw attention to President Obama’s ongoing delay of the Keystone XL energy pipeline. So far, 13 days have passed since Congress gave the president 60 days to accept or reject the project...more