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PRINTER'S NO. 1536
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
255
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY LANGERHOLC, PITTMAN, YAW, K. WARD, ARGALL,
BARTOLOTTA, LAUGHLIN, GEBHARD, MARTIN, BAKER, CORMAN,
ROBINSON, PHILLIPS-HILL, YUDICHAK, GORDNER, MENSCH, J. WARD,
HUTCHINSON AND STEFANO, APRIL 1, 2022
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, APRIL 1, 2022
A RESOLUTION
Urging the President of the United States to restart and
expedite the completion of the Keystone XL pipeline.
WHEREAS, On January 20, 2021, President Joe Biden signed an
executive order to cancel the permit for the Keystone XL
pipeline; and
WHEREAS, The Keystone XL pipeline would transport
approximately 830,000 barrels of oil a day from Canada to
refineries in the United States; and
WHEREAS, The construction of the Keystone XL pipeline would
have employed thousands of Americans with family-sustaining
union jobs and generated more than $2 billion in earnings; and
WHEREAS, The Keystone XL pipeline's construction would
contribute $3.4 billion to the United States Gross Domestic
Product; and
WHEREAS, The Keystone XL pipeline would transverse Montana,
Nebraska and South Dakota, having a positive effect on the local
economy in these states; and
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WHEREAS, Relying on a secure, stable supply of North-American
oil is vital to North-American energy security; and
WHEREAS, Oil transported through the Keystone XL pipeline
will travel to refineries located at the United States Gulf
Coast, where it will create products to fuel the transportation
network; and
WHEREAS, When compared to transporting oil by pipeline, other
modes of transporting oil increase greenhouse gas emissions by
28% to 42%; and
WHEREAS, Pipelines are safer for transporting oil over long
distances than transporting it on road, sea or rail; and
WHEREAS, President Biden waived sanctions on the Russian firm
responsible for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline between Russia and
Germany; and
WHEREAS, Between January 2021 and November 2021, Russia
provided more oil to the United States than any other country
except Canada; and
WHEREAS, In 2020, Russia exported nearly 65% of the 10.5
million barrels of crude oil drilled per day; and
WHEREAS, In 2021, Russia accounted for 21% of all United
States gasoline imports, more than any other nation; and
WHEREAS, Russia provides Europe with more than 40% of its
natural gas supply; and
WHEREAS, Eight percent of Europe's gas supply is piped
through Ukraine, which is now at risk of complete shutdown due
to the war between Russia and Ukraine; and
WHEREAS, After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany fully
pledged support for new liquefied natural gas terminals; and
WHEREAS, Italy is considering reopening coal mines to reduce
its dependence on Russian energy; and
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WHEREAS, Natural gas exports play an important geopolitical
role; and
WHEREAS, On numerous occasions, Russia demonstrated its power
as a dominant natural gas supplier by weaponizing its supply and
threatening the energy security of the world; and
WHEREAS, True divestment from the Russian Federation cannot
occur until the United States divests itself from Russian
resources; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is fortunate to have one of the
most abundant and diverse mineral resource fields in the world,
including the Marcellus Shale natural gas reserves; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is the second-largest natural-gas-
producing State in the nation, with a record 7.1 trillion cubic
feet produced in 2020; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is the third-largest coal-producing
State and the second-largest coal-exporting State in the nation;
and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is the third-largest producer of
electricity in the nation, with nearly 78 million megawatt hours
of electricity sent to neighboring states in 2020; and
WHEREAS, Petroleum refineries with a capacity to process
266,000 barrels of crude oil per day are located in
Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, Exports from the United States help reduce
dependence on Russian energy and weaken Russia's ability to use
energy as a weapon; and
WHEREAS, Exports from the United States make the natural gas
market more global and competitive; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania and the nation have an abundant supply
of natural gas and other forms of energy, which enable the
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entire world to reduce reliance on Russia; and
WHEREAS, Utilization of our natural gas supply improves the
domestic economy while providing thousands of Americans with
family-sustaining union jobs; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
urge the President of the United States to restart and expedite
the completion of the Keystone XL pipeline, reducing the United
States' and the rest of the world's reliance on Russian energy;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
promote an energy platform that shifts the United States toward
energy independence; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
all of the following:
(1) The President of the United States.
(2) The Secretary of Energy.
(3) The President pro tempore of the United States
Senate.
(4) The Speaker of the United States House of
Representatives.
(5) The chairperson of the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources of the United States Senate.
(6) The chairperson of the Committee on Energy and
Commerce of the United States House of Representatives.
(7) Each member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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