Doug Burgum Energy Profile – Nominee for Secretary of the Interior and Head of the National Energy Council

Name and Previous Role

Doug Burgum – Former Governor of North Dakota

Background and Experience

Doug Burgum is the former Governor of North Dakota, a position he held from 2016 to 2024. Prior to entering politics, Burgum had a distinguished career in business, notably as the founder of Great Plains Software, which was acquired by Microsoft in 2001. Following the acquisition, he served as a Microsoft executive, overseeing various initiatives and demonstrating a keen ability to navigate complex organizational landscapes.

As governor, Burgum focused on leveraging North Dakota's abundant natural resources, including oil, gas, and agriculture, to drive economic growth. Under his leadership, the state also explored advancements in carbon capture technology, making North Dakota a leader in carbon storage initiatives. Burgum’s combined business acumen and executive experience in a resource-rich state position him as a strong contender for a significant role in shaping national energy policy.

Key Views

• Fossil Fuels and Energy Security: Burgum believes that America produces energy cleaner, smarter, and safer than anywhere else in the world. He argues that restricting energy production domestically does not reduce global demand but instead shifts production to countries like Russia and Iran. This underscores his commitment to leveraging domestic energy resources to strengthen energy security.

• Renewable Energy and Electricity Needs: Burgum highlights the necessity of increasing electricity generation across all forms, including wind, solar, geothermal, and traditional sources. He emphasizes that the focus should not be on choosing one form of energy over another but on expanding the overall availability of electricity to meet growing demand.

• Climate and Environmental Stewardship: Burgum promotes pragmatic approaches to climate action, focusing on technological innovation rather than regulatory mandates to reduce emissions and achieve environmental goals.

• Energy Innovation: Burgum advocates for innovative energy solutions, emphasizing technologies like carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) as a way to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability.

• Regulatory Reform: He supports streamlining federal energy regulations to encourage private-sector investment and innovation in energy infrastructure and development.

Potential Impact on Energy Policy

Doug Burgum’s leadership as Secretary of the Interior and Head of the National Energy Council would likely emphasize a balanced approach to energy policy. He is expected to advocate for expanding domestic oil and gas production while investing in cutting-edge technologies like CCUS to address emissions. His stance on renewables and electricity generation suggests a strategy focused on integrating various energy sources into a reliable and robust energy mix to meet growing demands. Burgum’s leadership style, rooted in innovation and economic pragmatism, could shape policies that align environmental goals with energy security and economic growth. He also emphasizes the importance of maintaining America’s position as a global leader in clean and efficient energy production.

Support and Criticism

Support: Burgum is widely respected for his ability to bridge the gap between business and governance. His emphasis on innovation and economic growth has earned him praise from industry leaders and policymakers who value a pragmatic approach to energy policy.

Criticism: Environmental groups have questioned Burgum’s strong ties to the fossil fuel industry and his emphasis on technological solutions over stricter environmental regulations. Critics argue that his policies may not be aggressive enough to meet urgent climate challenges.

Quotes

"America produces energy cleaner, smarter, and safer than anywhere in the world. When energy production is restricted in America, it doesn't reduce demand, it just shifts production to countries like Russia and Iran.”

“We need all forms of electricity, we need more of it in the very near term. This is not about one vs the other, this is about how we drive forward and increase the amount of electricity we have in the country.”

“Right now, we’ve stacked a deck, where we are creating roadblocks for people who want to do baseload [electricity], and we’ve got massive tax incentives for people who want to do intermittent and unreliable.”

“We are incredibly blessed in North Dakota to have such rich natural resources, from our productive soil to our extensive lignite and oil and gas reserves, and some of the best geology in the world for permanent sequestration of CO2. This is a great opportunity to leverage one of the world’s challenges for the benefit of our entire state as well as the nation and world.”