ATA Urges State Department to Move Key Energy Project Forward

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In testimony today, American Trucking Associations asked the State Department to issue a presidential permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, a project that will provide jobs, as well as affordable access to reliable energy, for the trucking industry and the entire U.S. economy.

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"Diesel fuel is, and will likely continue to be, the lifeblood of the American trucking industry," ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said. "The State Department can help ensure that the 18-wheelers that deliver America's essential goods like food, fuel and medicine have reliable access to that fuel by approving the Keystone XL project. Approving this project would give a green light to thousands of new jobs and a much needed economic stimulus."

"Trucks move 70% of our nation's freight tonnage and earn 82% of the nation's freight revenue, consuming over 35 billion gallons of diesel fuel and 14 billion gallons of gasoline to deliver virtually all of our Nation's food, clothing, medicine, and other essential commodities," Graves said.

Richard Moskowitz, ATA vice president and regulatory affairs counsel, testified on behalf of the federation during the State Department's hearing that importing petroleum from Canada, rather than unstable regimes in other parts of the world, will help the trucking industry, he said, by increasing the stability of supply and making the price of diesel less susceptible to price spikes.

"Recent events in the Middle East should serve as a wake-up call on the need to improve U.S. energy security," Moskowitz said.

"The development of Keystone XL will provide a stable, long-term supply of crude oil from Montana, the Dakotas and Canada – one of our strongest and most loyal allies – to refineries in the United States," Moskowitz said. "The United States reliance on imported oil places U.S. consumers at greater risk of supply disruptions and damaging price spikes.  Volatile diesel prices harm the trucking industry and jeopardize the U.S. economy."

To read ATA's testimony, click here.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Good stuff. Trucks Bring It!

SOURCE American Trucking Associations