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NewsDakota.com) North Dakota Senator John Hoeven said he hopes a recent vote on the Keystone XL pipeline will help pressure President Obama to approve the pipeline.

The Keystone XL line would carry Alberta tar sands oil to US refineries. And there is an “on-ramp” proposed for Bakken crude to be transported by that pipeline. Hoeven said building the Keystone XL pipeline would be a job-creator as well.

Meanwhile, call it “Empower States.” That’s the term Senator John Hoeven uses to describe a national energy policy he’s pursuing. Hoeven said it’s based on the “Empower North Dakota” program his administration launched when he was North Dakota’s Governor. Hoeven said he’s convinced the US can be energy-independent in 5 to 7 years.