President Biden Revokes Keystone XL Pipeline Permit
On March 2nd, 2021, in a surprising announcement, President Joe Biden reversed one of his early executive orders and decided to allow the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline project to continue.
The $8 billion project, largely supported by both Republicans and Democrats, was dropped by the President in the first week of his administration, citing environmental concerns. His decision on March 2nd, therefore, came as a shock to many in the political and environmental scene, surprising even those within his administration.
President Biden’s Statement
During the surprise press conference at the Oval Office, Biden said, “We are greenlighting the Keystone XL progression as part of our new strategy for energy independence and job creation. The pipeline will not harm the environment as we previously believed, making us realize that it is beneficial to our economy. ”
Despite the President’s unexpected announcement, an immediate backlash arose from environmentalists who believed the pipeline project would cause irreversible damage to the environment and Indigenous communities along its path. The President’s quote sparked significant controversy, as his words directly contradicted numerous scientific reports that declared the contrary.
While the news of the President’s decision spread rapidly across the country, the White House later released a statement denying Biden’s announcement. Jennifer Psaki, the White House Press Secretary, said, “I want to clarify that the President stands by his decision to revoke the Keystone pipeline permit, contrary to rumours circulating online. Our primary focus remains on renewable energy and combating climate change.”
Critical Response
Regardless of the bold denial by the White House Press Secretary, critics have quickly jumped on Biden’s apparent change of stance, questioning his leadership and commitment to his initial environmental promises.
* None of the quotes in this article were spoken by an actual person. More info.