Nearly 50 religious groups have signed onto a letter urging the U.S. government to kibosh a major oil sands pipeline proposal.

“As a people of faith, we are in awe of Earth’s goodness and its ability to provide life for all of God’s creation,” reads the letter, posted to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. “We urge you not to permit TransCanada the opportunity to build the Keystone XL Pipeline.”

The groups, which include the “Chicago Benedictines for Peace” and “Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls”, demand that President Barack Obama make good on his calls for clean energy.

They call for bigger investments in energy efficiency and renewables such as wind, solar and geothermal.

“We need to respect the intrinsic value of creation, and thus, the environment as well,” their letter reads. “Tar-sands oil cannot in any way be described as ‘clean energy.’”

The Obama administration is currently mulling Calgary-based TransCanada’s proposal to ship Alberta oil sands crude south to Texas through a 3,200 km pipeline, the Keystone XL. A decision is expected later this year.

The company just restarted its massive Keystone pipeline after the U.S. government ordered it closed following several recent leaks.

Geoff Dembicki reports for the Hook.