The US Senate has confirmed Doug Burgum, former governor of North Dakota, as President Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of the Interior. The vote passed with strong bipartisan support, 79-18, including several Democrats joining Republicans to approve the nomination.
Burgum, a figure closely associated with North Dakota's fossil fuel industry, has endorsed an “all of the above” strategy for energy production, which seeks to balance the use of various energy sources. As Secretary of the Interior, he will oversee key agencies involved in permitting offshore wind projects, including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE).
During his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Burgum addressed the future of offshore wind projects, noting that projects in progress would be evaluated. “I'm not familiar with every project that the Interior has under way, but I'll certainly be taking a look at all of those and if they make sense and they're already in law, then they'll continue,” he stated.
However, President Trump has since issued an executive order imposing a moratorium on new offshore wind permitting actions from federal agencies, leaving many projects in uncertainty as the future of the sector remains under review.
