The Patriot Post® · No Keystone, No $175 Billion in Economic Activity

The latest episode of Hillary Clinton’s Profiles in Courage is her refusal to take a position on the Keystone XL pipeline. “No other presidential candidate was secretary of state when this process started, and I put together a very thorough, deliberative, evidence-based process to evaluate the environmental impact and other considerations of Keystone,” Clinton said. “So I will refrain from commenting, because I had a leading role in getting that process started, and I think that we have to let it run its course.” No further comment until she’s president (heaven forbid). Keystone did first come up for review during her tenure at the State Department, and it has been reviewed and reviewed and reviewed again. Barack Obama vetoed legislation to get it going. And now it’s back for review at State. Seriously. So while Hillary’s out proposing hundreds of millions in subsidies for solar panels, what has the now seven-year delay in the Keystone pipeline actually cost our economy? According to the American Action Forum, there are three huge costs:

• “$175 billion in economic activity has been untapped due to the nearly 7 year delay in approving the Keystone XL pipeline.”

• “The Keystone XL pipeline could gross over $15 billion in revenue a year.”

• “Since 2009, the U.S. has paid over $1 trillion dollars to the top 5 countries from which the U.S. imports, including Russia and Venezuela.”

Gee, it’s no wonder Hillary would rather ignore the question than face up to such a transparent failure.