Mike Motschenbacher
RepublicanQ4 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?
“North Dakota needs to carefully balance the amount of acreage used for farming and industry to make sure that both sectors can perform as to meet the needs of the state, while still allowing for future growth of other expanding industries.”
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’m not sure if ND should be funding the research as I’m sure most of the research has already been done that we can access, but we absolutely need to have the data to make responsible decisions.”
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?
“The state should have a rule in regulating infrastructure and technology projects, but location for projects should be kept to the local subdivisions.”
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 believe the least amount of taxes and regulation you put on farmers is the best way to support them. Farmers should have access to the latest technologies that are needed for their success and I would support providing a good regulatory environment for these technology companies to locate in North Dakota so farmers have local access to these technologies.”
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?
“We put a lot of trust into industry experts, and I would absolutely listen to them when determining necessary steps to helping ND industries.”
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?
“Tribal entities certainly need to have a seat at the table when determining how we move forward with any of these issues and their concerns need to be taken into account.”