The Big Story 

President-elect Trump has named Doug Burgum as both his choice as Interior secretary and the leader of a brand new National Energy Council. 

© The Hill, Greg Nash

Trump described the new council as consisting of “all Departments and Agencies involved in the permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, transportation, of ALL forms of American Energy.”

He added that the council will be charged with cutting red tape, “enhancing” private sector investment and focusing on innovation rather than regulation. 

In addition, Burgum will have a seat on the White House’s National Security Council. 

Burgum briefly mounted his own presidential bid this cycle before dropping out and endorsing Trump. He was among the contenders to be Trump’s vice president.

As North Dakota governor, Burgum was at the helm of a major fossil-fuel producing state. North Dakota is third in the nation for oil production and seventh for coal production.

While leading the state, Burgum said he hoped to reach net-zero emissions. But he said the state could get there not by cutting back its use of planet-warming fossil fuels but rather by reducing and offsetting its emissions through use of carbon capture technology.

Read more at TheHill.com.

Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, we’re Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.

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Essential Reads 

How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:

What to know about Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead Interior Department and as energy czar

House Democrats call on Biden to expand offshore drilling protections ahead of transition

In Other News 

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

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What We're Reading 

News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:

• Can plastic fit in the palm of your hand? Don’t recycle it. (The Washington Post)
  
  

• Global carbon offset standard setter okays three deforestation project types (Reuters)

On Tap 

Upcoming news themes and events we're watching:

Next week

• The House could take up legislation that aims to increase opportunities for producing geothermal energy on public lands
• The COP29 climate summit continues

Tuesday:

• The House Oversight Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold two separate oversight hearings related to FEMA after an employee was fired for telling her team to avoid homes with Trump signs. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is slated to appear at both events.

Wednesday:

• The Senate Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing on needs for disaster funding.  Criswell and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are slated to testify. 

What Others are Reading 

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

GOP senators: Gaetz nomination to head Justice in serious trouble

Republican senators are warning that former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-Fla.) nomination to serve as President-elect Trump’s attorney general is in serious trouble, even though Republicans will control 53 seats in the upper chamber next year. Read more

Democrats press Biden to protect executive branch from Trump’s return

Capitol Hill Democrats are pressing the White House to pull out all the stops to gird the executive branch against President-elect’s Trump’s promised efforts to tear down federal agencies and restructure them to his liking. Read more