Jolene Bruce
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?
“I think incentives in the Farm bill should include rewards for Land owners that have sustainable stewardship. Help farmers, ranchers, and foresters maintain productive, resilient operations while protecting soil and water. There are economic benefits that arise from for adopting working-land practices like cover cropping, rotational grazing, and nutrient management.”
KEYWORDS: Expertise and diplomacy, go long way if everyone has a seat at the table.
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?
“I think the role of state government is to make sure that the constituents in their state are safe And then the land is not affected by any infrastructure project. Regulations are important. The taxpayers of this land shouldn’t have to have the burden that these large scale developments Are making sure the land isn’t being harmed in their venture. The cost should be shifted to the companies who are using our land and our resources. We need to start putting people first and not billionaires and hold them accountable.
I think the science funding should be environmentally focused on if we are being good Stuarts of this land. Projects that are going to help the environment instead of hurting should be giving top priority. We are in an environmental crisis. The priority should be making sure that the family farmer has all the information and technology that they need so that they don’t need to sell their farms to a large corporation because they cannot compete.”
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?
“When approving large infrastructure and/or technology projects your affected communities should have complete transparency to approval of these projects. There should never be NDS that your community has no information and logistics along with cost and environmental impact studies. Town halls should be used so that voters can make decisions in their best interest.
The health and wellbeing of the community is the most important factor in any decision made. Protecting the environment for the future of our communities is vital in protecting home values. All factors should be considered before deciding on these major projects that affect the future of our communities. Experts brought forth by each side with no economic impact for the residents.”
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?
“Farmers can lower operational expenses and reduce environmental impacts by adopting precision technology, improving soil health, and utilizing official conservation programs. The USDA has financial help and guidance through EQIP and exploring grants through climate smart funding.
Explore grants and incentive opportunities via Farmers.gov Climate-Smart Agriculture to support soil carbon sequestration and lower greenhouse gas emissions. This year has been monumental tipping point threshold crossed. Global Tipping Points Report released by international scientists, warming of around 1.3°C to 1.4°C pushed tropical coral reefs past their thermal threshold. It is crucial that more technology is used to lower our carbon footprint.”
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?
“Explaining the importance of science to skeptical people works best when you validate their doubt as a core scientific value rather than treating it as an obstacle. Reframe science as a tool: Present science not as a rigid belief system, but as a systematic method for testing claims against reality.”
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?
“Treat Indigenous knowledge systems and western science as co-equals to design context-specific environmental and health policies. Making sure that this community has an equal seat at the table to discuss the obstacles that they face and work together.
I think one of the most important aspects of diplomacy is just making sure that everybody has a seat at the table. Experts from every field discussing ideas and hopefully coming to solutions to make the environment better is everyone’s duty as an American citizen.”