Burgum: Interior Secretary and energy czar

Energy & Environment

The Big Story

Trump names Burgum Interior secretary, energy czar

President-elect Trump has named Doug Burgum as both his choice as Interior secretary and the leader of a brand new National Energy Council.

Trump described the new council as consisting of “all Departments and Agencies involved in the permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, transportation, of ALL forms of American Energy.”

He added that the council will be charged with cutting red tape, “enhancing” private sector investment and focusing on innovation rather than regulation.

In addition, Burgum will have a seat on the White House’s National Security Council.

Burgum briefly mounted his own presidential bid this cycle before dropping out and endorsing Trump. He was among the contenders to be Trump’s vice president.

As North Dakota governor, Burgum was at the helm of a major fossil-fuel producing state. North Dakota is third in the nation for oil production and seventh for coal production.

While leading the state, Burgum said he hoped to reach net-zero emissions. But he said the state could get there not by cutting back its use of planet-warming fossil fuels but rather by reducing and offsetting its emissions through use of carbon capture technology.

Read more at TheHill.com.

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