OK folks, I have heard back from my Congressman, Sean Patrick Maloney, and why he supported Keystone…….below the orange filagree…..
Thank you for contacting me about the Keystone XL pipeline. As your representative in Congress, I appreciate hearing your thoughts on the issues most important to you and my neighbors in the Hudson Valley.
As you may know, one of my top priorities has been protecting the Hudson Valley's delicate environment. Currently, there are billions of gallons of oil traveling through the Hudson Valley by train and barge, and I have serious concerns about this de facto pipeline. We've actually seen a 40 fold increase of crude by rail since 2008, and a derailment in our area would have catastrophic consequences for both our communities and environment.
Much of this crude traveling through the Hudson Valley from the Bakken Shale is simply being transported to refineries in Canada and outside of New York. By building the Keystone Pipeline, I believe we can actually reduce the amount of highly explosive Bakken crude traveling by our rail system, which are more dangerous than pipelines.
I agree with many of my neighbors that we have to get serious about reducing global carbon emission, and one of my initial concerns with this proposal was the overall impact of the Keystone XL pipeline on climate change. However, after years of investigation, the State Department issued a report that concluded the Keystone XL pipeline would not significantly impact greenhouse gas emissions.
Our country has to invest in a comprehensive energy plan that includes both short-term and long-term energy solutions. America's dependence on foreign sources of oil puts our economy and national security at risk and has forced us to depend on the resources of unstable and sometimes hostile foreign regimes. By establishing more affordable, reliable and sustainable energy solutions like solar, wind and biomass, we can become more energy independent while creating new jobs and industry in the Hudson Valley. That is why I have focused on supporting local biomass projects, and why I have introduced legislation to encourage investments in energy efficiency for homeowners, school districts, and municipalities.
The Keystone XL pipeline has inspired a great deal of passion across the political spectrum, and I hope to continue this conversation about safely transporting crude and reducing carbon emissions.
Thank you again for sharing your views with me. My staff and I are here to help, so please contact my office to let me know how we can best serve you, either in Washington or at home in the Hudson Valley.
That was his entire reply.
Am I understanding this accurately - to mitigate oil passing through New York, Congressman Maloney would rather it pass through the states with the proposed Keystone pipelines?
Seems the more sensible legislation would be to champion enhanced safety regulations for oil being transported by rail and/or barge.
Of course, Congressman Maloney could propose a real pipeline pass through the Hudson Valley if he is concerned about a de facto one being more dangerous.
This is what strikes me - Congressman Maloney is suggesting that he is not in favor of Keystone, he is in favor of the risks of an oil spill accident be far away from NY…..so he voted for Keystone.
Help me out folks, I would enjoy sending a reply to Congressman Maloney.