President Obama has rejected plans for an oil pipeline which would have stretched from Alberta in Canada to the Texas Gulf Coast.

According to Green America the pipeline would have posed "severe consequences for human health and the environment while further entrenching the dirty fossil fuel economy and failing to generate lasting jobs."

At a time when we need to do our utmost to save energy and focus on renewable sources it’s good to see that pressure is also being applied across the Atlantic.

Green America, a national non-profit organisation aiming to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society, has welcomed the decision on the Keystone XL pipeline.

Fran Teplitz, Green America’s director of strategic outreach, said: "This is the right decision, a brave decision, and one that shows the President took into account profound concerns about the pipeline’s impacts on health, climate change, the environment, and the need to build a clean energy economy that can create lasting US jobs."

Green America believes this to be a prudent and sensible decision that will benefit current and future generations. In its press release it states: "Big Oil should not determine the direction of our energy future when we need a new direction based on clean and renewable power."

It’s also refreshing to see people power lead to direct results. Last November 12,000 people encircled the White House, protesting over the proposed pipeline. It seems the President took notice.

[Image: tarsandaction]