Nixon says progress being made on oil pipeline through Missouri
Missouri officials said they are moving forward with preparation for a new oil pipeline that could stretch across 11 Missouri counties.
Gov. Jay Nixon, joined by Canadian Ambassador Gary Doer in Kansas City on Wednesday, said the state is making process on readying for new construction on the Flanagan South pipeline, which will expand through the midwest to Texas from Canada.
“It’s not accidental they come through Missouri,” Nixon said. Some folks like toss ay things happen, that’s not true. A direct choice has been made to spend $1 billion to direct a pipeline through our state.”
Nixon, speaking at the World War I Museum before flying to Springfield for a send off event for Missouri National Guard soldiers heading to Kuwait, said more domestic energy production could benefit both the state’s economy and the nation’s security.
Nixon was introduced on stage by Jack Gerard, president of the American Petroleum Institute. Gerard praised Nixon, a Democrat, for supporting the pipeline, and urged the federal government to pursue national policies favorable to oil production.
“If given the chance to create these jobs, we’ll see more jobs created and become more energy secure,” Gerard said, calling for even more drilling opportunities nationally, as well as for Democrats in Washington to lay off calls for ending tax breaks for oil companies. “We believe we pay not only our fair share — but more than our fair share.”
The three were part of a day long Missouri Energy Symposium hosted by the API.
Nixon said that earlier this week, his administration concluded meetings with all 11 counties along the proposed pipeline route through the state. Enbridge, Inc., announced plans earlier to potentially invest nearly $1 billion of the nearly $2.6 billion project in Missouri. Enbridge could begin construction on the pipeline early next year, and expects to the pipeline to be in full service by mid-2014.
-Eli Yokley
