President-elect Donald Trump’s Interior secretary nominee, Doug Burgum, pledged Thursday to bring back an emphasis on fossil fuel development on public lands and waters, arguing at his confirmation hearing that the Biden administration’s focus on renewables has left American consumers vulnerable.
Burgum made a passionate pitch before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that the Interior Department can steward the nation’s environment — such as protecting national parks — without restricting American energy.
His comments showcased Burgum’s expected dual role if confirmed as Interior secretary, as Trump has said he will also lead a new National Energy Council created by the White House.
“The American people have clearly placed their confidence in President Trump to achieve energy dominance, and by energy dominance, that’s the foundation of American prosperity,” said Burgum, a former software executive who just finished his second term as North Dakota’s governor.
Burgum demurred on whether he would support offshore wind projects that Trump has criticized, while acknowledging that his state has embraced wind power. He echoed a host of Republican talking points on issues including national monuments, endangered species and energy development, showcasing his familiarity with the broad range of policies that he would have influence over as secretary.
Burgum argued that the nation is facing an “energy crisis” that public lands can help solve with production. He also emphasized bolstering the grid through transmission line development.
His perspective cheered many Republicans.
“He’s super smart, his track record is unbelievable,” West Virginia Sen. Jim Justice said. “If anybody is the pick of the litter, it’s this guy.”
But Democrats, such as Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, pushed back at some of Burgum’s statements during a hearing that was largely cordial, with fairly measured questioning by Democratic senators.
Hirono criticized Burgum’s claim that producing more fossil fuels will help create global security and “stop wars” abroad, quoting two former secretaries of Defense who said climate change is a critical — and growing — threat.
“These are two secretaries of Defense. They know something about war,” she said.
Burgum responded that the concern with fossil fuels is with the emissions that they create, which can be tackled with carbon capture.
“Are you going to protect our natural resources, or are you going to ‘drill baby drill’? I raise that as a concern,” Hirono said.
Maine Independent Sen. Angus King pressed Burgum on Trump’s well-known antipathy to offshore wind development.
“Convince your boss that wind power isn’t all bad,” King said, noting that more than 30 percent of North Dakota’s electricity comes from wind power.
Burgum acknowledged his state’s wind development. But he said the U.S. needs “an all of the above strategy,” saying fossil fuels are necessary at this point to create stability in the country’s energy supply.
King also asked Burgum for a commitment to continue Maine’s offshore wind leases. The Biden administration held a first-ever offshore wind lease sale in the Gulf of Maine last year, a move that the state’s governor has supported but which lobster fishermen have challenged.
Burgum said he wasn’t familiar with all existing projects but those “already in law” would continue. He added that Trump’s concerned about renewable energy companies receiving tax incentives not available to other energy companies.
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) asked Burgum to commit that the Trump administration would give federal disaster aid without “conditions,” a question framed around recent comments by some Republicans in the wake of the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles that federal aid should come with attached conditions.
“Do you believe federal disaster aid should come with or without conditions?” Padilla asked.
“Each situation would vary,” Burgum said.
While noting that the White House decides on federal emergency declarations, Padilla said Burgum would have significant influence over disaster response, particularly for wildfires.
“Would you commit to responding to every disaster with as much support and resources as possible, regardless of which state or jurisdiction the disaster is in?” Padilla asked.
“Absolutely,” Burgum replied.
Senate Energy Chair Mike Lee (R-Utah) probed Burgum’s position on the use of the Antiquities Act of 1906, which his state has challenged in lawsuits.
Burgum echoed position taken by many Republicans that the law was intended to protect small areas. Burgum compared those areas to “Indiana Jones-type” archeological sites.
Burgum said he is passionate about public lands, about clean air and clean water, agreeing with Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell that public lands can be important to supporting recreation and local economies that depend on that kind of activity.
“Some [areas] like the national parks, absolutely, we need to support and protect every single inch of those,” he said. “But in other cases, we’ve got a multiple-use scenario for our lands.”
Burgum, who has the endorsement of roughly 180 Native American tribes, according to Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), also committed to work respectfully with sovereign Native American nations if confirmed, and he spoke of the “tragedy” of missing and murdered Indigenous women.
