President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for interior secretary addressed a Senate committee on Thursday, suggesting the U.S. could harness fossil fuel development alongside other energy sources to advance global stability. Doug Burgum, formerly the governor of North Dakota, expressed skepticism regarding the reliability of renewable energy options promoted during the Biden administration.
Burgum articulated Trump’s vision for achieving U.S. “energy dominance” as a strategic response to the fossil fuel demands of authoritarian regimes like Russia, Iran, and Venezuela, which implement fewer environmental protections. He stressed the necessity for the U.S. to produce more “baseload” electricity, including from coal, as the nation’s technology sector expands. If confirmed, Burgum would oversee the management of federal lands.
“This is something that is critical to our national security,” Burgum stated. “Without baseload, we’re going to lose the AI arms race to China.” However, these claims on security were contested by Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, who pointed out that military officials have identified climate change as a significant threat that could lead to instability and conflict.
Hirono expressed concern over Burgum’s intention to pursue further fossil fuel extraction, stating, “For you to take a position that you are going to engage in actions that result in burning more fossil fuels is troubling.” The combustion of fossil fuels—comprising oil, natural gas, and coal—contributes to climate change through the release of greenhouse gases. When asked about his views on climate change, Burgum acknowledged it as a “global phenomenon.”
The Interior Department manages around 500 million acres of federal land and extensive offshore regions, which together account for about 25% of the U.S. oil production, translating to over 1 billion barrels of crude yearly. This central role makes it crucial in the ongoing discussions surrounding climate change mitigation. The Biden administration has curtailed new oil and gas leases from federal lands as part of its climate action initiatives, yet high oil prices led to record production levels under Biden, as dormant leased lands were tapped for drilling.
Trump has pledged to boost oil and gas extraction efforts and has shown opposition to renewable energy initiatives, particularly offshore wind farms. During his testimony, Burgum indicated he would not attempt to persuade Trump of the advantages of renewable energy sources. Senator Angus King from Maine highlighted that North Dakota obtains over one-third of its electricity from onshore wind, to which Burgum responded by emphasizing the need for continuous power sources rather than the “intermittent” nature of solar and wind energy.
“We’ve got massive tax incentives for people that want to do intermittent” power, Burgum remarked, suggesting that the current support for intermittent energy sources is disproportionately high. Trump has previously expressed intentions to dismantle the offshore wind sector if he returns to the presidency, delegating Rep. Jeff Van Drew, an outspoken critic of offshore wind projects, to draft an executive order to halt such initiatives. Van Drew confirmed that he had sent this draft to Burgum.
When questioned by King about honoring existing offshore wind leases, Burgum indicated that projects already approved and deemed sensible would proceed. Amassing considerable wealth in the software industry, Burgum hails from a farming background in North Dakota and served two terms as governor in the resource-rich state. He backed Trump’s campaign after ending his own presidential run for 2024 and was nominated by Trump for the role of interior secretary in November. He will also chair a new energy council focused on promoting the development of oil and gas resources, crucial to enriching energies exported to allies across the globe.
While Burgum as governor had set forth ambitions for North Dakota to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, he also promoted a carbon capture pipeline intended to mitigate emissions contributing to climate change. He told the committee that the U.S. has an opportunity to reduce the carbon footprint of fossil fuel consumption while encouraging new energy development.
“If we can decarbonize traditional fuels cheaper than we can subsidize some of the renewables, that’s something we should look at,” Burgum asserted. However, skeptics of carbon capture technology argue that it remains largely untested at scale and permits the fossil fuel industry to continue as usual without significant changes.
The Department of the Interior’s responsibilities extend beyond fossil fuels; they also encompass mineral extraction, forestry, wildlife conservation, and the management of national parks, along with obligations to over 500 Native American and Alaska Native tribes. Senator Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, raised inquiries regarding the expansion of national monuments, such as Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, instituted under the Antiquities Act amidst local dissent. Burgum expressed understanding for Lee’s apprehensions, noting that the 1906 legislation was originally intended to protect archaeological resources within minimal boundary areas.
Later on, Burgum elaborated on the economic potential of public lands, highlighting their roles in recreation, timber, and energy production. “Not every acre of federal land is a national park or a wilderness area. Some of those areas we have to absolutely protect for their precious attributes, but the rest of it – this is America’s balance sheet,” he concluded.
