There have been several reports in the media today that the Obama Administration is considering delaying the decision on the Keystone XL pipeline. The reports state that the Administration may wait until late next year after the 2012 elections to make the decision on moving forward with this essential project.

Manufacturers cannot afford for the decision on the Keystone XL to be delayed. Including the energy costs, it is already 20 percent more expensive to manufacture in the U.S. compared to our major trade partners. The Keystone XL project will provide manufacturers with access affordable energy and create jobs, as many as 20,000 during its construction. And it’s just not construction jobs that will be created. A project this large creates thousands of spin-off jobs. The Perryman Report estimates that the project will create an additional 118,000 indirect jobs.  

With the manufacturing sector struggling to gain jobs, as we saw in last Friday’s October Employment Report, it’s important that the Administration approve the Keystone XL project as soon as possible. We hope that the Administration will no longer delay the decision and move forward with approving the pipeline by the end of the year to help create much-needed jobs!