Following President Obama's rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline on Friday, state officials responded.
Senator Lamar Alexander said, "I am very disappointed in the president's misguided decision. There is no reason whatsoever not to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline. The president’s own state department’s ‘Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement’ of January, 2014 said building the pipeline would not significantly affect the environment, and the pipeline would have created thousands of jobs for American workers and put our country one step closer to energy independence.”
Senator Bob Corker said, “Rejecting completion of the Keystone pipeline defies logic and reflects a decision to put politics ahead of our economy and a rational approach to energy,” said Corker. “Multiple reviews by the State Department have said there will be no significant environmental impact when considering alternative methods of transporting the oil. I am disappointed the president has denied a project that would have generated economic growth and advanced our nation’s energy security.”
Congressman Chuck Fleischmann said, “Today, President Obama put politics above jobs and energy security by rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline. The pipeline had bipartisan support and had been proven environmentally safe by the State Department. With this decision President Obama is not only snubbing our largest trading partner and energy supplier but he is also turning his back on at least 40,000 good paying jobs.”