Statement by Susan Greene, president of the American Solar Energy Society

The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) applauds the decision by President Obama to deny a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline at this time.

It's simply good energy and climate policy to discourage further dependence on fossil fuels, regardless of the friendliness and stability of the source.

While the pipeline as proposed may have offered up to 6,000 temporary construction jobs, it was designed to ship Canadian oil for export via the Gulf of Mexico, and would have had offered little permanent benefit to the U.S. economy while putting American waters, including acquifers, at risk of major oil spills.

Moreover, U.S. government policy should be to discourage the conversion of tar sands, the world's dirtiest and most carbon-intensive source of fossil fuel. Our policy should be instead to deploy existing job-rich clean energy and transportation technologies.

America's energy future should be directed toward domestic renewable resources, deployed with American expertise and labor. Wind and solar manufacturing and installation already employ more people than do the coal and petroleum businesses in the United States, and hold the promise to employ millions more.

About ASES: The American Solar Energy Society is the nation's oldest and largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of renewable energy, energy efficiency and our nation's transition to a sustainable energy economy. Founded in 1954 by solar scientists, educators, professionals and solar advocates, the Society hosts the National Solar Tour, organizes the National Solar Conference and publishes SOLAR TODAY Magazine and its online editions SolarToday.org and Solar@Work. ASES founded the FindSolar.com database and website, produces original Climate Change and Green Jobs Reports, and supports grassroots advocacy initiatives. ASES advocates 50 percent of U.S. electric generation from renewable sources by 2050. Learn more about the American Solar Energy Society at ases.org. The National Solar Conference and the World Renewable Energy Forum come to Denver, May 13-17, 2012 (wref2012.org).