Burgum calls California a ‘national security risk’ as Energy chief warns blue states are skewing cost averages

By Fox News · Fox News

EXCLUSIVE : Interior Secretary Doug Burgum claims California’s dependence on foreign oil is a "national security risk," arguing that restrictive blue state energy policies are undermining U.S. energy dominance. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Burgum contrasted energy policies in places like Pennsylvania and Alaska, where he and Energy Secretary Chris Wright recently toured the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as it was primed for expanded resource development with more restrictive states like California shutting down refineries. Soon after taking office, President Donald Trump announced a pivot toward utilizing America’s natural resources to power the U.S. economy and its energy grid rather than making public lands "reserves" where nothing can touch them. "Natural gas in Pennsylvania is going to be [about] $1 in the summer; it might be $2 in the winter … but it’ll be $12 in New England because New England isn’t getting their gas from Pennsylvania. They blocked the pipelines from Pennsylvania," Burgum said. TRUMP FLIPS DEMS' 'AFFORDABILITY' SCRIPT, TURNING BUZZWORD INTO MAGA MATERIAL AS MAMDANI VISIT LOOMS New England hit a cold snap in 2018 and had to import natural gas from Russia in part due to such conditions. "So they, like California, will be importing foreign sources of energy into New England," Burgum said. "California is the national security risk. They're getting 60%-plus … of oil in California imported from foreign countries. Iraq's at the top of the list. They're shipping it from halfway around the world to run the largest fleet of internal combustion cars in the country in California." ALASKA HITS BACK AT INSURERS ACCUSED OF USING ‘WOKE’ UNDERWRITING TO RESHAPE ENERGY POLICY AS ANWR REOPENS Burgum warned that the Golden State once had 40 oil refineries but is now down to nine, with two more on their way out to Texas and beyond. "So, stay tuned. There's gonna be gasoline coming from foreign countries into California to run their cars. The…