WASHINGTON, D.C.--(Marketwire - Oct. 18, 2011) - The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO (IBEW) today announced their involvement in the development of the proposed $7 billion Keystone Gulf Coast Expansion Pipeline Project (Keystone XL).

"We welcome the opportunity to work in cooperation with TransCanada to provide the skilled workforce needed on this vital project," said IBEW International President Edwin D. Hill. "At a time when jobs are the top global priority, the Keystone XL project will put thousands back to work and have ripple benefits throughout the North American economy. Our members look forward to being part of this historic project and pledge to deliver the highest quality work into make it a success."

Construction of Keystone XL's approximately 1,700 miles of 36 inch crude oil pipeline and related facilities are the subject of a Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) with international unions representing a total of 2.6 million workers. The unions signed to PLAs for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline are: the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, the International Union of Operating Engineers, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Laborers' International Union of North America. The inclusion of the IBEW in the PLAs ensures that TransCanada will have a capable, well-trained and ready labor force in the U.S. to perform work at the Keystone XL's electrically driven pump stations, which would move oil through the line.

It is estimated that an average of 6,000 man-hours per pump station is directly related to electrical work, which totals approximately over 100,000 man-hours for the 15 U.S. pump stations covered in the Keystone XL PLAs. The electrical-related, pump station man-hours work typically involves skilled and trained journeyman electricians, linemen, apprentices and instrument control technicians installing a series of two to five electrically driven pump units at each station.

Within days of receiving regulatory approval from the U.S. Department of State, the $7 billion Keystone XL pipeline would create 20,000 construction and manufacturing jobs in the U.S. during the construction phase. This includes welders, pipefitters, heavy equipment operators, engineers and many other trades. Investing billions in the economy would also lead to the creation of 118,000 spin-off jobs as local businesses benefit from workers staying in hotels, eating in restaurants and TransCanada buying equipment and supplies.

If construction of the pipeline begins early in 2012, Keystone XL is expected be fully operational in 2013.

The IBEW is an international labor organization that represents approximately 725,000 workers in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Republic of Panama. It has members in construction, utilities, manufacturing, telecommunications, broadcasting, railroads and government. Over 330,000 IBEW members are represented in the construction branch alone.

Media Enquiries:
Jim Spellane
202-728-6014
jim_spellane@ibew.org