In a letter sent on February 9, 2021, a coalition of 14 Republican attorneys general led by Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen urged President Biden to reinstate the Keystone XL pipeline’s permit to cross the Canadian border.[1] The letter was also signed by attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and West Virginia. In their letter to the president, the coalition hinted at possible legal action over Biden’s January 20, 2021 executive order that rescinded the permit for the pipeline, stating, “Please be aware that the states are reviewing available legal options to protect our residents and sovereign interests.” The Republican coalition emphasized the economic harm that the permit cancellation will bring. According to the state attorneys, states had relied on the expected tax revenue from the pipeline. In Montana, for instance, the state will lose approximately $58 million in annual tax revenue due to Biden’s decisions. The coalition also noted that more than 1,000 pipeline workers were laid off after the executive order.

[1] https://dojmt.gov/attorney-general-knudsen-leads-coalition-calling-on-biden-to-reinstate-keystone-xl-permit/