The recent Senate vote on the Keystone XL Pipeline ("Senate rejects GOP effort to advance oil pipeline," March 9) demonstrates the pathetic Republican energy policy. First, it advocates opening up more offshore sites for oil drilling leasing despite the fact that millions of acres currently under lease to oil companies have never been explored. Then it advocates construction of the Keystone Pipeline threatening the Ogallala Aquifer that is crucial to Midwest agriculture by a company whose prior pipeline experience has resulted in accidents and spills.

Contrast this to the Obama administration's policy of promoting new sources of energy as well as tighter vehicle energy efficiency standards that will reduce oil consumption by an amount greater than the amount of oil that the pipeline would deliver in 45 years.

Jack Kinstlinger, Baltimore