Burgum Must Protect American Jobs Over Oil and Gas Interests

Washington, D.C. — Today, Trump’s nominee for Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, appeared before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. In response to the hearing, Climate Power executive director Lori Lodes issued the following statement:

“As governor of a major wind energy producing state, Doug Burgum understood that clean energy is cheap and reliable. As a Trump nominee, Burgum is pushing for an agenda that will mean we have less energy at a more costly price. If confirmed, Burgum must remember that clean energy is American energy, and at a moment when crypto and AI are set to drive demand up dramatically, we need these new energy sources more than ever.”

Here are the facts: 

• Clean energy investments have already spurred more than 750 new clean energy projects or expansions, creating more than 400,000 new jobs. Renewable energy is affordable and reliable because the wind will always blow and the sun will always shine. 
• In Doug Burgum’s home state of North Dakota, 40% of in-state electricity generation is from renewable energy sources. 
• Doug Burgum personally profited from leasing land to an oil company founded by his and Donald Trump’s megadonor Harold Hamm. 
• Doug Burgum disputed established climate science and denied that human activity caused climate change. 
• Doug Burgum vowed to roll back regulations on the oil and gas industry.
• Doug Burgum called for oil and gas exploration and mining activity to be permitted on public lands.