House Republicans to press for approval of oil sands pipeline

House Republicans plan to ratchet up pressure on the Obama administration next week to approve a massive oil sands pipeline, arguing that the project is essential amid high gas prices and the country's dependence on Middle Eastern oil.

Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee have invited a top executive at TransCanada — the company hoping to secure the Obama administration’s approval to build the controversial pipeline that would stretch from Alberta, Canada, to refineries in Texas — to testify at a Monday hearing.

The hearing will focus on draft legislation being floated by top Republicans on the panel that would expedite the Obama administration’s consideration of the pipeline, known as Keystone XL. As The Hill reported earlier this week, the legislation would require that President Obama make a decision on permitting the pipeline by Nov. 1 of this year.

Alex Pourbaix, TransCanada’s president for energy and oil pipelines, will appear at a hearing of the House Energy panel's Energy and Power subcommittee.

The State Department is heading up a multi-agency environmental review of the Keystone XL proposal. The department announced in March that the project must undergo an additional layer of review.

Republicans have accused the Obama administration of slow-walking the permit, arguing that the country needs secure oil from our Canadian allies at a time of political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa.

But environmental groups and some Democrats have countered that the Keystone XL pipeline comes with significant risks. Oil sands production results in higher greenhouse gas emissions than conventional oil production, the groups note. The also have raised the possibility of oil pipeline spills, pointing to a spill in Michigan last year.

Expect Republicans on the committee Monday to press the Obama administration to quickly approve the project, citing high gas prices and the country’s dependence on Middle Eastern oil. Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said this week that he hopes the bill moves to the floor of the House quickly.

The project would double the capacity of the existing Keystone pipeline, which brings oil from Canada to refineries in the Midwest, Republicans on the committee said Friday.

“Completion of the Keystone pipeline extension would more than double the current system’s capacity, bringing 1.29 million barrels per day to into [sic] U.S. markets,” committee Republicans said in a statement.

Other witnesses at Monday’s hearing include Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board Chairman Dan McFadyen, United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Assistant General President Stephen Kelly, National Wildlife Federation Senior Vice President for Conservation and Education Jeremy Symons, among others.