{"id":2391348,"date":"2025-01-16T17:02:57","date_gmt":"2025-01-16T22:02:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doug-burgum-says-energy-dominance-will-be-americas-big-stick\/"},"modified":"2025-01-16T17:04:07","modified_gmt":"2025-01-16T22:04:07","slug":"doug-burgum-says-energy-dominance-will-be-americas-big-stick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doug-burgum-says-energy-dominance-will-be-americas-big-stick\/","title":{"rendered":"Doug Burgum says \u2018energy dominance\u2019 will be \u2018America\u2019s big stick\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoug-burgum-says-energy-dominance-will-be-americas-big-stick%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2391348&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, nominated to lead teh\u200d Department of the interior, emphasized\u200d the importance of &#8220;energy dominance&#8221; as a key strategy for bolstering U.S. national\u200d security\u200b during his\u2062 confirmation hearing. He argued that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gop-sen-sullivan-if-ukrainians-can-stand-up-to-russia-biden-can-stand-up-to-left-on-energy-production\/\" title=\"GOP Sen. Sullivan: If Ukrainians Can Stand up to Russia, Biden Can Stand up to Left on Energy Production\">increasing domestic energy production<\/a>,especially on federal lands,would prevent the \u200crelocation of demand to less environmentally conscious nations like Russia and Venezuela. Burgum indicated that\u2062 maximizing energy\u2062 resources could lead to lower prices and\u2063 help sustain \u200deconomic\u200b growth,linking energy\u200c output to advancements in industries such as artificial \u200cintelligence.<\/p>\n<p>while acknowledging climate \u2064change as a global issue, he suggested using technologies like \u2064carbon capture to \u200dmitigate environmental impacts. His nomination has <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">raised ethical concerns due<\/a>\u200d to potential conflicts of interest related to his past business ties with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/green-energy-advocate-sec-granholm-pleads-with-fossil-fuel-executives-to-up-production\/\" title=\"Green Energy-Advocate Sec. Granholm Pleads with Fossil Fuel Executives to Up Production\">fossil fuel executives<\/a>. During the \u2062hearing, \u200bhe faced questions regarding his stance on\u200b drilling in protected areas, such \u2062as bears Ears National Monument, \u200band committed to adhering to the law \u2063and the Constitution\u200b while promoting energy production. The discussion reflects a significant shift in \u200bU.S.\u200b energy policy following the more restrictive measures of the Biden\u2063 management against\u2063 oil and \u200bgas drilling.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Doug Burgum says &lsquo;energy dominance&rsquo; will be &lsquo;America&rsquo;s big stick&rsquo; on world stage<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1937334\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Former North Dakota Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/doug-burgum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Doug Burgum,\">Doug Burgum<\/a> promised to maximize drilling on federal lands at his confirmation hearing for <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/interior\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">interior<\/a> secretary Thursday, calling the incoming administration&rsquo;s goal of &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/energy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"energy\">energy<\/a> dominance&rdquo; the surest way to guarantee America&rsquo;s national security.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;When energy production is restricted in America, it doesn&rsquo;t reduce demand, it just shifts production to countries like Russia, Venezuela, and Iran, whose autocratic leaders don&rsquo;t care about the environment,&rdquo; Burgum said in his opening statement.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In our time, President Trump&rsquo;s energy dominance can be America&rsquo;s &lsquo;big stick&rsquo; that is leveraged to achieve historic prosperity and world peace,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;The Department of the Interior, in cooperation with U.S. Congress, this committee, and the states, will play a pivotal role in achieving the outcomes to make the world safer and America even better for our children, grandchildren, and generations to come.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Burgum, the chief executive of energy-rich North Dakota until 2024, faced questions about climate change, renewable energy, and plans to expand oil and gas leasing as President-elect Donald Trump&rsquo;s choice to lead the Interior Department. He alluded to technology such as carbon capture to reduce the impact.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I believe climate change is a global phenomenon, for sure,&rdquo; Burgum said in response to a question from Sen. Angus King (I-ME), asking if he believed climate change was a problem.<\/p>\n<p>The nominee did not face any questions about conflicts of interest after a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2025\/01\/16\/climate\/doug-burgum-interior-department-nominee.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&amp;referringSource=articleShare\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">watchdog group said <\/a>his personal and financial relationship with Harold Hamm, the billionaire founder of Continental Resources, could complicate his capacity to oversee the federal oil and gas leasing program.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, President-elect Donald Trump&rsquo;s choice to lead the Interior Department, testifies before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo\/Jose Luis Magana)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Interior Department has had a history of ethical concerns. During Trump&rsquo;s first term, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/1025982\/in-coordination-with-the-opposition-zinke-blames-ouster-on-politicized-inspector-general\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">resigned from his post <\/a>in the face of at least six investigations into ethical misconduct allegations and other possible violations.<\/p>\n<p>Burgum said resources such as natural gas and coal from federal lands could provide more electricity, which could then support the growth of the artificial intelligence industry. The interior nominee, a former software industry entrepreneur who grew up on a farm, launched a 2024 presidential run of his own <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/2795729\/doug-burgum-first-2024-candidate-endorse-donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">but then endorsed Trump<\/a> after he dropped out in 2023.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout the latter part of the campaign, Burgum acted as a public surrogate and liaison to fossil fuel executives. At one time, Burgum was under consideration to become Trump&rsquo;s running mate.<\/p>\n<p>Burgum argued that maximizing energy output can lower prices while also ensuring environmental conservation. His stance would signify a major change in policy after the Biden administration attempted to cut down on oil and gas drilling in an effort to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/buttigieg-becomes-the-first-millennial-confirmed-to-a-cabinet-position\/\" title=\"Buttigieg Becomes The First Millennial Confirmed To A Cabinet Position\">reduce greenhouse gas emissions<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In recent days, Biden <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/3277085\/biden-approves-ban-new-drilling-federal-waters\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">issued an executive order <\/a>to ban new drilling off the entire East Coast and the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington state.<\/p>\n<p>The Interior Department oversees a large swath of federal land and areas offshore, including regions that produce a quarter of U.S. oil. Burgum has been tapped to lead the department and the new <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/donald-trump-transition-white-house-cheung-gor-f3e02df04ffece1b07a44062ee723d71\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">National Energy Council<\/a>, which is tasked with promoting oil, gas, and other energy development.<\/p>\n<p>Democrats on the committee questioned Burgum on whether he would allow leases for drilling operations on protected lands. Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), in particular, pressed the former North Dakota governor on whether he would allow less restrictive protections at Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, which could allow the expansion of drilling, mining, or other commercial uses.<\/p>\n<p>During Trump&rsquo;s first administration, he redrew the monument&rsquo;s boundaries, marking one of the largest reductions of federal land protections in U.S. history. The Biden administration restored the original boundaries in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If you are ordered by the president to act in a manner that is counter to the department&rsquo;s mission or Constitution, such as Bear Ears National Monument, will you do as the president asked, because he wants to drill in that monument?&rdquo; Hirono asked.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Senator, as part of my sworn duty, I&rsquo;ll follow the law and the Constitution, so you can count on that,&rdquo; Burgum responded. &ldquo;I have not heard of anything about President Trump wanting to do anything other than advancing energy production for the benefit of the American people.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) also brought up the issue of expanding oil and gas leasing into Bears Ears amid concerns that energy production could come at the cost of hurting tourism.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t for expanding oil and gas leasing into Bears Ears, it&rsquo;s a beautiful protected area,&rdquo; Cantwell said. &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want offshore drilling off the coast of Washington. I&rsquo;ve got a marine sanctuary. &hellip; I have the Cascadia fault line. I mean, I could have devastation to an economy that&rsquo;s paying dividends, why would I want to do that?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Cantwell asked whether Burgum would prioritize the federal land leases that already exist or if the department plans to open up more federal lands to new leasing, but the nominee did not directly answer.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;What I&rsquo;ve seen during my time as governor is not that we have existing, but we are restricting legal access for development or timber or oil and gas or whatever on public lands today by illegally not holding the leases that should have been held,&rdquo; Burgum responded.<\/p>\n<p>Committee Chairman Mike Lee (R-UT) disputed reports that the incoming administration is attempting to drill in Bears Ears National Monument.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a paranoid fantasy, it&rsquo;s not a thing,&rdquo; Lee said. &ldquo;The dispute here is about the process by which it was designated, unilateral presidential action taken without consultation.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Trump campaigned on a promise to &ldquo;drill, baby, drill.&rdquo; He also has advocated ending the development of wind energy, which competes with fossil fuels. Under Burgum&rsquo;s leadership as governor, North Dakota expanded wind power in recent years. King pressed Burgum to convince Trump to reconsider his stance on renewable energy such as offshore wind.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I hope you can talk to the president about the fact that wind has its virtues and can contribute significantly,&rdquo; King said during his questioning.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Certainly, you&rsquo;ve got great wind resources in Maine, we&rsquo;ve got good wind resources in North Dakota,&rdquo; Burgum said. &ldquo;Not every state is lucky to have the resources that we do. We&rsquo;ve got to have the right balance, and maybe we have tipped a little too far in one direction.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) referenced the devastation of recent fires in Southern California and asked Burgum whether federal disaster aid should come with or without conditions, as Trump and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3285974\/trump-newsom-feud-escalates-california-wildfire-assistance-on-line\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">feud<\/a> over the assistance.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I think each situation would vary,&rdquo; Burgum said, sidestepping the question.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Would you commit to responding to every disaster with as much support and resources possible, regardless of which state or jurisdiction the disaster is in?&rdquo; Padilla asked in a follow-up question.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Burgum said &ldquo;absolutely&rdquo; and that he would be willing to go a step further.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s probably time for all of us together to say, &lsquo;What could we be doing differently?&rsquo;&rdquo; Burgum said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1937334\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1937334\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Doug Burgum claims &#8216;energy dominance&#8217; will be America&#8217;s key asset globally<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2391349,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Doug-B-scaled-1024x683.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[5374,32286,44819,36468,5894],"class_list":["post-2391348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-america","tag-doug-burgum","tag-energy-dominance","tag-energy-policy","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Doug-B-scaled-1024x683.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2391348","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2391348"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2391348\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2391352,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2391348\/revisions\/2391352"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2391349"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2391348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2391348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2391348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}