Democrat Brad Crabtree is running for a spot on the North Dakota Public Service Commission two years after he unsuccessfully challenged Republican Kevin Cramer for the office.
The sheep and cattle rancher near Kulm, N.D., and policy director for the Great Plains Institute said his campaign will focus on the need for "responsible energy development" and creating a statewide energy efficiency policy -- the same platform he ran on in 2010.
But Crabtree said those priorities remain "unaddressed" and have become more urgent than ever as the oil boom in western North Dakota continues to grow.
"It's a much bigger issue now than it was two years ago, so that will remain the focus," he said.
Crabtree is running for the seat on the PSC now held by Tony Clark, a Republican who is not campaigning for another term. Randy Christmann and Blair Thoreson are seeking the GOP endorsement for the office, which will be decided at the state convention in Bismarck later this month.
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Campaign goals
Crabtree said he is not arguing against energy development, and he cited his years of working to promote development of wind, biomass and other renewable sources as well as new technology to make coal power cleaner and new methods to boost recovery of oil.
But he said the state needs to focus on "good environmental stewardship" and meeting the needs of oil-affected communities in the Oil Patch as development continues to soar.
About 45 percent of the nation's oil is imported, and Crabtree said North Dakota "can and must" play a role in meeting that demand.
"But just because we have this opportunity and I think responsibility to produce this for the country doesn't mean that we need to have chaos to do it," he said.
Crabtree said the state also must adopt a policy to encourage energy efficiency, something he said most other states have done in recent decades to help cut down energy usage and save customers money on utility bills.
His campaign also is seeking to restore the "reputation" of the PSC, which he said has been tarnished by the "overt political partisanship" the current commissioners have shown over the past two years.
In addition to Clark, Republicans Cramer and Brian Kalk hold positions on the commission.
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Crabtree said the members need to be "absolutely above reproach" and keep a distance from the businesses and industries they are regulating.
"I really think that we do need a change in terms of the approach that's taken to the Public Service Commission and the role of regulators on the commission," he said.
Crabtree announced his candidacy in Grand Forks, Bismarck and Fargo on Monday. He will seek the Democratic-NPL endorsement for the office Saturday afternoon during the party's state convention, which will be held Friday through Sunday at the Alerus Center and CanadInn in Grand Forks.
Johnson reports on local politics. Reach him at (701) 780-1105; (800) 477-6572, ext. 105; or send email to rjohnson@gfherald.com .
