Kansas Interfaith Power & Light

For more information or comment contact Kansas IPL Director Rabbi Moti Rieber at rebmoti(at)kansasipl.org, or (913) 232-2336

Lawrence, KS, January 18, 2012 — Kansas Interfaith Power & Light (Kansas IPL) joins with faith and environmental groups all over the nation in voicing support for President Obama’s decision today to deny permission for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.

On September 26, 2011, Kansas IPL Director Rabbi Moti Rieber led several clergy leaders and other people of faith in testifying against the Keystone XL at the State Department’s hearing in Topeka. Our arguments then, as now, were that the Keystone XL poses a danger to the ecology of the state of Kansas by transversing some of the most ecologically sensitive areas of the state, including the Flint Hills and the Ogalalla Aquifer, which supplies drinking water and agricultural irrigation to millions of people in the region. Also, the tapping of this source of oil would open a spigot releasing hundreds of thousands of pounds of carbon into the atmosphere, adding to the climate change that is already occurring and leading to what renowned NASA climatologist James Hansen called “game over” for the environment.

Since then the arguments against this project have only grown stronger. The dirty-energy industry is trying to frame this as a jobs issue, but the facts are these: despite the inflated claims, the pipeline will provide mostly temporary construction jobs, and few of those (and virtually none in Kansas); and there is far more potential for job development in the transition to wind, solar and other clean, renewable and domestic sources of energy. Taking this far-sighted approach would be better for Kansas, better for our country, and better for the earth’s climate.

In fact, it can fairly be said that Canada would get the jobs, China would get the oil, and Kansas and the other pipeline states would get the pollution – and higher prices at the pump. We thank President Obama for making the right choice – denying this permit.

Rabbi Rieber is available to comment on this story.

What follows is a statement from Interfaith Power & Light’s President, The Rev. Canon Sally G. Bingham:

“Interfaith Power & Light applauds President Obama for demonstrating leadership in deciding against the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. His actions today will help to ensure a clean, healthy and safe world for our children. Transporting dirty tar sands oil through the heartland of America will unnecessarily risk catastrophic damage to ecosystems and aquifers that millions of people depend upon for their livelihood. People of faith are called to be good stewards of God’s Creation, and to love our neighbors and take care of the vulnerable among us.

“For months, faith leaders have been speaking out against the Keystone XL pipeline at State Department hearings and in letters to the Administration and Congress. It is of great concern that Keystone 1 has had many more leaks than expected, and the 1 million gallon tar sands oil spill into Michigan’s Kalamazoo River in 2010 was a national tragedy. An EPA spokesperson said he has never seen anything like it – a heavy crude mixed with chemicals that sinks instead of floats, greatly hampering the multi-year clean-up effort.

“Our nation is on the cusp of a clean energy revolution. According to a Brookings¹ report released in 2011, more than 2.7 million people are working in the U.S. clean energy economy right now. Bloomberg New Energy Finance reports that in 2011, America surged ahead of China² on clean energy investments. The new proposed fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks will save 2.2 million barrels of oil a day by 2025 – about double the amount the proposed Keystone XL pipeline would have delivered, and without the risk.

“People of faith strongly believe that we need an urgent response to the climate crisis through continued implementation of better clean air safeguards, construction of a renewable energy grid, and more robust energy efficiency and renewable energy standards. The Keystone XL would only slow the pace of this clean energy transition, continue with business worse than usual, and hasten global warming. We can and must model a way forward for the world, create jobs, and care for God’s Creation. Thank you Mr. President for making the right and moral choice to set us in that direction.”