Cara Cody-Braun
IndependentQ4 North Dakota is a top state in the nation for both reserves and production of crude oil, natural gas, and coal (https://www.eia.gov/states/ND/analysis) and over 38 million acres are used for crop and livestock production (US Census of Agriculture, https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2022/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_1_State_Level/North_Dakota/). What policies, if any, do you support or envision in managing land-based resources in North Dakota (and nationally) and how do these policies relate to conservation and economic development in natural resource sectors?
“We have many resources and we need to be good stewards. Stewardship means using resources in a way that is thoughtful of future generations.”
KEYWORDS: Sustainable, clean, balanced
Q6 North Dakota is developing large-scale carbon capture and geologic CO₂ storage projects, which require monitoring of underground CO₂ movement and potential impacts on groundwater and seismic activity. What role, if any, should state/federal governments play in funding research and collecting data on the effectiveness, environmental impacts, and long-term reliability of geologic CO₂ storage?
“This is a very important project that could help provide solutions for climate change. The state should collaborate and foster these projects.”
KEYWORDS: Collaboration, carbon, solut
Q7 What role should local communities play in approving large infrastructure or technology projects? What policies would you support related to this role and the economic impact of large projects on local communities?
“Communities should have a large say in big projects. I support requiring full transparency, community meetings, communication with all stakeholders.”
KEYWORDS: Transparency, sustainability, community
Q8 North Dakota farmers face challenges including shifting weather patterns, localized droughts, fluctuating input costs, and global market pressures. What policies or investments would you support to help farmers remain productive and economically competitive, and what role could scientific research and innovation play in those efforts?
“I would support policies that are responsive to changing conditions. I support education programs that help growers understand changing patterns and helping them plan for changing conditions.”
KEYWORDS: Patterns, education, flexibility
Q9 Scientific and technical expertise can inform decisions related to healthcare, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, and emerging technologies. What role, if any, should scientific evidence and expert input play in your policymaking process, and how would you communicate scientific uncertainty or evolving evidence to the public?
“Evidence and research should guide public policies. With COVID we saw how some people got very upset when the guidance we were given was difficult or seemed contradictory. I think people tend to want black and white answers. Policy makers need to communicate information and be transparent about uncertainty.”
KEYWORDS: Honesty, input, integrity
Q10 Tribal nations play an important role in North Dakota’s environmental stewardship, but many face challenges in accessing resources and infrastructure for environmental science, land management, and water monitoring. What policies, if any, would you support to strengthen tribal capacity in these areas, and why?
“I would look to guidance from tribes on what needs there are and how the state could support them.”
KEYWORDS: Stewardship, cooperation, collaboration