U.S. SENATE – At a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Steve Daines questioned Alberta Premier Jason Kenney on the widespread effects of the Biden administration’s cancellation of the Keystone XL Pipeline on energy security, the economy and the United States’ relationship with Canada.
Click HERE to watch and download
“Premier, you know better than most what the Keystone XL Pipeline meant for jobs, revenue and energy security…That’s why Alberta filed a suit against the United States seeking $1.3B in damages. Let me just read a line from that filing: The Biden Administration’s decision to revoke the Keystone XL Pipeline ‘resulted in the loss of thousands of jobs, caused systemic harm to the American, Canadian and Albertan economies, and diminished the highly integrated North American energy system upon which future North American prosperity will continue to rely,’” Daines said.
Daines then slammed the Biden administration for its failure to mirror Canada’s steps to improve forest management and increase timber harvest. He highlighted the negative impacts that the lack of forest management has created, including the recent spike in lumber prices.
Click HERE to watch and download.
“For years, lack of management has had negative impacts on the health of wildlife habitat, ecosystems, watersheds, rural economies, and public safety but now we’re seeing even broader impacts in the housing market, with the price of lumber. During the height of pandemic, the price of lumber more than tripled and even now, the volatile lumber market has increased the average single-family home price by nearly $20,000. Despite this, Montana lumber production actually decreased by 11% and we just had another mill close last November…This is not for a lack of supply—Montana has over 9 million acres in need of treatment and our annual timber harvest is only half of the Allowable Sale Quantity studied and approved in forest plans,” Daines said.
Watch the full exchange HERE.
###
Contact: Rachel Dumke, Katie Schoettler