Burgum, Wrigley welcome court ruling blocking BLM venting and flaring rule from taking effect
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Attorney General Drew Wrigley applauded a U.S. District Court judge’s decision to temporarily block the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from enforcing a natural gas venting and flaring rule published in April 2024.
The preliminary injunction granted by U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Traynor blocks the BLM from enforcing the rule in North Dakota, Montana, Texas, Wyoming and Utah pending the outcome of the case. North Dakota is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit.
Traynor wrote in his ruling that the plaintiffs “have shown they are likely to succeed on the merits of their claim the 2024 Rule is arbitrary and capricious.”
“This rule is yet another example of the Biden-Harris administration overstepping the limits on agency authority set by Congress to achieve their misguided goal of phasing out traditional energy production,” Burgum said. “The BLM rule imposes harmful and unnecessary regulations that undermine states’ authority to be the primary regulator of air quality within their borders under the Clean Air Act. The court’s decision is a temporary victory for consumers, U.S. energy independence and national security.”
“The Biden-Harris administration continuously attempts to overregulate and ultimately debilitate North Dakota’s energy production capabilities,” Wrigley said. “And while Judge Traynor’s well-reasoned decision pauses one such attempt by the Biden-Harris anti-energy zealots, North Dakota is forced to fight similar legal battles against their unwise and illegal overreach on multiple fronts – battles to which we remain committed.”
Burgum: ND protests BLM’s Resource Management Plan as a threat to grid reliability, energy security
Gov. Burgum announced the state is protesting the BLM's updated Resource Management Plan (RMP) for North Dakota, warning that it would negatively impact electrical grid reliability and national security while raising energy costs for consumers.
The protest contains input from more than a dozen state agencies and elected officials who thoroughly reviewed the draft RMP after it was filed earlier this year. The finalized RMP would block leasing on over 4 million acres, or nearly 99%, of federal coal acreage in North Dakota and also close off 213,100 acres, or 44%, of federally owned fluid mineral acreage from leasing.
In a cover letter filed with the protest, Burgum noted that North Dakota has been a responsible steward of the state’s abundant natural resources, and that the RMP stands in “stark conflict” with the state’s core interests, economy and governance. The plan conflicts with state and local laws, regulations and policies establishing North Dakota’s priorities for responsible natural resource development and utilization, and it would impede access and development of state and private minerals, including significant critical and rare earth minerals.
“This overreaching plan from the Biden-Harris administration threatens our nation’s energy security and puts the long-term reliability and affordability of our power grid at risk by placing thousands of oil, gas and coal acres off-limits to leasing. It’s also a huge missed opportunity for the federal government, which could earn billions of dollars from those leases and use that revenue to ease the burden on American taxpayers,” Burgum said. “Instead of driving up energy costs for consumers with this proposed RMP, we urge BLM to select an alternative plan that ensures proper resource development, respects state’s rights and is consistent with federal law, sound science and economic realities.”
Burgum also announced that he separately will exercise his authority to challenge the RMP through an appeal process reserved only for governors.
Miller visits Big Iron, Autonomous Nation Conference in Fargo
On Thursday, Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller visited the Big Iron Show at Red River Valley Fairgrounds and stopped by the Autonomous Nation conference, hosted by Grand Farm.
Autonomous Nation is a conference bringing together the best and brightest minds in the autonomous industry. North Dakota continues to lead the way in a number of autonomous industries, including agriculture to help farmers improve productivity and profitability.
From tackling workforce shortages to eliminating inefficiencies and bridging technology gaps, the conference showcased the latest innovations and solutions that will shape the future of the autonomous industry through several live demonstrations.
Miller helps celebrate announcement of Destination Development projects in Minot
On Wednesday, Lt. Gov. Miller joined local and state officials in Minot to unveil the projects planned for the Destination Development Grant that Minot was awarded.
Last November, with a focus on attracting visitors and future workforce, the Governor’s Office and the North Dakota Department of Commerce announced $25 million of matching grants to create new attractions in North Dakota communities, enable significant expansions of existing attractions and support key amenities aiding the tourism economy across the state.
Visit Minot received a $1 million grant from the North Dakota Department of Commerce on behalf of the four downtown small businesses. The Destination Development Grant fund provided a total of $25 million for projects across the state. Minot’s application was one of 14 projects selected for funding.
Four newattractions will be opening in downtown Minot in 2025. These destination development projects include:
𝘾𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝘼𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮: A pedestrian-only public plaza featuring a fountain, splash pad, art installations and seasonal amenities.
𝗡𝗼. 𝟭𝟴: A marketplace featuring a farm-to-table eatery, games, entertainment and more in a historic downtown building.
𝗔𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹 & 𝗜𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗼𝘀: An expanded all-season event space featuring geodesic igloos and a heated pergola that offers year-round activities.
𝗔𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗮 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗲 𝗦𝗸𝘆 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀: An exploration of culture featuring unique, educational and celebratory culinary experiences curated by the team and culture bearers from under the Aurora Borealis: Scandinavian, Indigenous, German-Russian, and local growers.
Recovery Rocks ND project aims to spread hope and encouragement during National Recovery Month
In recognition of National Recovery Month this September, North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) is launching Recovery Rocks ND, a statewide community engagement initiative aimed at celebrating recovery and reducing the stigma around seeking help for substance use and mental health needs. HHS is encouraging individuals across the state to paint rocks with messages of hope, resilience and recovery that reflect their personal journey or connection to recovery.
Several HHS human service centers throughout the state, along with other behavioral health partners are hosting rock painting sessions as well as creating Recovery Rocks rock gardens at their facilities. Additionally, the HHS Behavioral Health and Children and Family Services Conference scheduled for Sept. 16-19 at the Bismarck Event Center will include an opportunity for attendees to decorate a “recovery rock” while visiting with peer support specialists who have their own recovery stories and work to help others to support their recovery.
How to participate:
- Paint a rock – or several!
- Keep it as a reminder of why recovery matters to you.
- Share it as a form of encouragement with a loved one.
- Display it in a rock garden as inspiration for others.
- Post it on social media with the hashtag #RecoveryRocksND.
- Submit your photos and recovery stories to HHS through this form: hhsnd.site/RecoveryRocksNDShare.
Visit the North Dakota Mental Health Directory to find services for crisis support, counseling and treatment, early intervention, recovery support and more: https://www.hhs.nd.gov/behavioral-health/find-services.
NDRIO to host Inaugural Investment Seminar
The North Dakota Retirement and Investment Office will host its Inaugural Investment Seminar, “Optimizing Returns for North Dakota’s Future" on Sept. 25, 2024, at the Bismarck Public Schools Career Academy.
This seminar is designed to provide attendees with a comprehensive understanding of North Dakota's investment strategies and the broader economic landscape. It will also be an excellent opportunity for community leaders, members of the public, and industry professionals to learn about sound investment practices and the future of North Dakota’s financial growth.
2024 Governor’s Photo Contest for Travel and Tourism Now Open
The North Dakota Governor's Photo Contest for Travel and Tourism is back, inviting residents to capture the beauty and excitement of our state for a chance to win cash prizes and statewide recognition. This year’s contest is a partnership between the Governor's Office, AAA of North Dakota, North Dakota Tourism and the North Dakota Council on the Arts.
“North Dakota is a state of extraordinary beauty and diverse experiences, and this photo contest is a wonderful opportunity for residents to showcase what makes our state special,” Gov. Burgum said. “We encourage everyone to participate, capture the magic of our seasons, and share their unique perspectives with the world. Let’s celebrate North Dakota’s beauty together and inspire others to discover our great state.”
This year's theme highlights North Dakota's diverse seasons, showcasing the unique appeal of our state throughout the year. Photographers can submit entries in eight categories:
- Winter Scenery & Winter Activities
- Fall Scenery & Fall Activities
- Spring Scenery & Spring Activities
- Summer Scenery & Summer Activities
The contest is open to all North Dakota residents. Photographers can submit their entries online through Instagram, the contest website, or Flickr, or by mail. The deadline for entries is Jan. 31, 2025.
Winners will be chosen in each category, with a grand prize winner receiving an additional cash prize and a free AAA membership. Winning photos will also be displayed in the State Capitol and used in promotional materials.
Full details and contest rules can be found at https://www.ndtourism.com/governors-photo-contest-entry.