North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R-PA) is expected to take on an energy-related role in the next Trump administration if it wins the White House.
Burgum, who was mentioned as a potential running mate for Trump, ultimately chose Senator J.D. Vance (Ohio) instead. But Burgum said Trump called him “the secretary” after he was not chosen for the role.
And in his prime-time speech at the Republican National Convention last week, Burgman focused his remarks primarily on energy policy.
“Unleashing America’s energy dominance is our path back to prosperity and peace through strength,” Burgham told the crowd Wednesday. “Teddy Roosevelt encouraged America to speak softly and carry a big stick. Energy dominance is the big stick that Trump will carry.”
Trump has publicly and privately praised Burgum’s insight, telling rallies that Burgum “probably knows more about energy than anybody I know.”
“A year ago, Donald Trump asked me if I thought Doug Burgum would be a good Energy Secretary,” Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-D.) told The Hill.
At the time, Cramer was supporting Burgum’s presidential bid. But the senator now has his own idea of what Burgum could do: energy czar.
“It would make perfect sense to have someone in the White House or one of the agencies responsible for taking a government-wide strategic approach to energy development,” Cramer said.
“If we want to take full advantage of everything Doug Burgum has to offer in the energy space, we have to give him everything,” he added.
Burgum announced earlier this year that he would not run for reelection as governor of North Dakota, a position he has held since 2016. In that role, he has set a goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2030—not by reducing fossil fuel use, but by capturing and storing carbon emissions.
Carbon capture has been met with skepticism by many in the environmental community, who have questioned whether carbon capture can actually deliver the emissions results it is supposed to deliver. Many have also raised safety concerns about the pipeline infrastructure used to transport the captured carbon.
Burgham has highlighted energy as one of his top priorities during his presidential campaign, saying on his campaign website that he wants to “dramatically increase energy production.”
Outside of energy, he has signed a significant anti-transgender bill and a statewide ban on nearly all abortions, positions that put him in line with the hard-line conservative wing of the Republican Party.
Prior to his government career, Burgum worked in technology, holding a senior role at a software company that was later acquired by Microsoft. He later served as a senior vice president at Microsoft.
According to the Washington Post, the governor helped develop the Trump campaign’s energy policy and has been talking to oil industry donors.
“He’s got a very active rodex,” Kramer said. “I don’t think there’s an oil, gas or coal CEO anywhere in the world who doesn’t know Doug Burgum.”
Frank Maisano, a senior partner at law and defense firm Bracewell, whose clients include both renewable energy and fossil fuel companies, said the industry would be happy to see Burgum take on the energy role in the czar-like role described by Kramer.
“The whole industry, whoever it is, would be very excited about it,” he said, adding that Burgum “understands the energy industry.”
Trump has promised to “drill baby drill” if he takes back the White House. While he has occasionally touted his support for “everything,” the former president has also criticized renewable energy, particularly wind power.
Maisano said he believed Burgham would support an “everything” strategy that included renewable energy and fossil fuels.
“I think it’s valuable to have someone like Doug Burgum who can go to the president and make his case,” he said.
“Whether it’s renewables, gas, transmission, oil and coal, I think everyone will have an opportunity to speak up, to have a seat at the table, and to have a conversation with the president through Gov. Burgum,” he added.