President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday the creation of a National Energy Council (NEC). This new organization will be responsible for guiding the United States towards “energy domination”. Doug Burgum, governor of North Dakota, was chosen to lead it while serving as secretary of the Interior, a position focused on managing federal lands.
This double nomination is already raising many concerns among environmental organizations. Indeed, Doug Burgum, known to be close to the oil and gas industry, could facilitate the opening of federal territories, such as national parks, to energy prospecting.
A vast field of action
The CNE will aim to “reduce red tape, strengthen private sector investment and focus on innovation instead of absolutely unnecessary long-term regulations,” Donald Trump said in a statement. He also said: “With U.S. energy dominance, we will reduce inflation, win the artificial intelligence arms race against China (and others), strengthen U.S. diplomatic power, and end the wars in the world.
Doug Burgum, who became a millionaire after selling his software company to Microsoft, is a rising political figure. After a surprise gubernatorial victory in 2016 and re-election in 2020, he briefly ran in the Republican primaries before supporting Donald Trump. Although tipped for the Ministry of Energy, he will ultimately lead this council reporting directly to the White House, without requiring approval from the Senate.
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