Interior Secretary Doug Burgum warned that California’s dependence on imported oil — more than 60% of its supply, he said — represents a national security risk and argued that restrictive energy policies in many Democratic‑led states raise costs and weaken U.S. energy independence. DOE data cited by Energy Department officials show average electricity prices of $0.18/kWh in blue states versus $0.11/kWh in red states and project larger household bill increases in blue states. Officials also cautioned that retiring fossil‑fuel plants without adequate replacements could drastically increase blackout risk by 2030.
Burgum Calls California A “National Security Risk” As Energy Officials Warn Blue States Raise Costs
Dec 11
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told Fox News Digital that California’s heavy reliance on imported oil poses a national security risk and argued that restrictive energy policies in many Democratic‑led states are increasing costs and weakening U.S. energy independence. Burgum contrasted those policies with states such as Pennsylvania and Alaska, which he and Energy Secretary Chris Wright recently visited while touring the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as it was prepared for expanded resource development.
Domestic Resources Versus Import Dependence
Burgum said the Biden administration’s approach — and local restrictions in some blue states — has limited domestic development and infrastructure, leaving regions dependent on distant suppliers. He pointed to wide regional price disparities for natural gas as an example: "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," he said, citing the 2018 cold snap when New England imported natural gas from overseas, including supplies from Russia, amid tight regional capacity.
"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." — Interior Secretary Doug Burgum
Refineries, Imports And Prices
Burgum warned that California once had roughly 40 oil refineries but now has about nine, with additional capacity reportedly relocating to Texas and other states. He said that reduced domestic refining capacity contributes to higher pump prices in California — which he contrasted with lower prices in Houston, Oklahoma and North Dakota — and increases reliance on imported gasoline.
DOE Data And Broader Warnings
Energy Department official Ben Dietderich presented DOE data showing average residential electricity prices of $0.18 per kWh in so‑called "blue" states versus $0.11 per kWh in "red" states, compared with a national average of $0.13 per kWh. Dietderich said blue states saw an average increase of 4.0 cents per kWh (roughly $320 in added annual household electricity expenditures), while red states saw an average rise of 1.5 cents per kWh (about $175 annually), commenting: "The data is clear: high energy prices are a choice."
The DOE briefing also warned the U.S. could face dramatically more grid outages if coal and natural‑gas plants retire without adequate replacement capacity, projecting a potential increase in blackout incidents by 2030 if current trends continue.
energy graphic
State Officials, Infrastructure, And Market Dynamics
Officials from Hawaii and other states explained regional drivers behind high costs. Yvonne Hunter of Hawaii’s state energy agency noted that imported fossil fuels still account for the majority of the state’s energy consumption and are a major driver of prices, even as Hawaii pursues a faster transition to carbon‑free energy.
The Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy highlighted how infrastructure choices can produce counterintuitive outcomes: Massachusetts’ Everett Marine Terminal, for example, connects New England to gas supplies from as far away as Trinidad despite proximity to Marcellus Shale production in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia — resources that some states restrict.
Political Reactions And Policy Debate
Responses to the DOE’s findings and Burgum’s comments were mixed. Maryland officials pushed back, arguing that tariffs and budgetary issues have driven costs, while Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has signaled openness to an expanded energy portfolio with a new permitting plan. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, despite a fracking moratorium in her state, approved a controversial pipeline project aimed at New York City, drawing criticism from some lawmakers.
Burgum also raised concerns about the U.S. lagging in critical mineral and rare earth development, saying policymakers have ceded ground to China. He cited workforce differences — roughly 12,000 metallurgy graduates annually in China versus about 600 in the U.S. — as evidence of an industrial skills gap that complicates domestic supply‑chain recovery.
Fox News Digital reached out to governors in Pennsylvania, California, Connecticut and Massachusetts for comment; Connecticut confirmed receipt but had not responded by publication. Kiera McDonald contributed to this report.
