Piping for Keystone Pipeline. Photo: wiki commons.

The American Jewish Committee released a statement today expressing it’s disappointment with the decision to block the approval and construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.  The pipeline, which would have run from Canada down to Houston, was one of the most hotly contested issues of 2011 in Washington, and it was announced on Wednesday that the State Department had blocked the proposal.

“The U.S. should be making every effort to diminish foreign imports of oil and combine that with alternative sources.  This to us, the pipeline project, was really a no-brainer because it will create another pipeline from Canada. They’re a neighbor, democrats, reliable, and the pipeline would help create jobs, which we need,” Kenneth Bandler of the AJC told The Algemeiner.

Environmentalist activists fought hard against Republicans in favor of the deal, who used energy independence and job creation as catalysts for their support.  Following the announcement, President Obama blamed Republicans for rushing the process.

“The rushed and arbitrary deadline insisted on by Congressional Republicans prevented a full assessment of the pipeline’s impact, especially the health and safety of the American people, as well as our environment,” he said.

Canada, which exports 99% of it’s crude to the United States is trying to decrease that number and diversify into other markets.

Following the announcement on Wednesday, Joe Oliver, the Canadian Natural Resource Minister said “the decision by the Obama administration underlines the importance of diversifying and expanding our markets, including the growing Asian market”.

It is presumed that China will be next on the list of countries Canada pursues for it’s oil exports.