Start work now on Keystone pipeline

We should expand oil production right now for many reasons. India, China and other demands are becoming huge, the gas prices since President Obama took office have increased dramatically, and we also need the jobs to reduce unemployment.

The growing demand for oil is what increases fuel price at the same time when anti-American attitudes by many OPEC nations can threaten to cut off our supply. The decision by Obama and Co. not to proceed on the Keystone pipeline appears to be a bid to postpone a decision until after elections. They should again consider building this pipeline now.

This pipeline project and any possible problems were studied for two years, and the latest idea to reroute the line around the Nebraska sand hills (adding 100 miles to the 1700-mile line) should make it time to put politics aside and proceed with this project. Imagine what this $17 billion project would do to help boost our economy.

It takes 2 tons of tar sands to produce 1 barrel of oil. It takes huge amounts of water for steam and natural gas (heat) to process. Canada has plenty of all these things. Some 25 percent of job growth has been in energy, and while work on wind power and other sources are continuing we still have to increase oil production. Expect no sudden reduction in gas prices, but we must think long term and start now for the future when the problems will be much larger.

Developing more of our own resources and importing less foreign oil will reduce the national debt and interest expense on that debt. We would be less reliant on imports, and it would create jobs, increase our own productivity and create more tax revenue here at home.

Mr. Obama and Congress should put aside politics, start this project, and open the door to progress.

William McNutt

Des Plaines