This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with the North Dakota Monitor. Sign up for Dispatches to get stories like this one as soon as they are published. During Doug Burgum’s two terms as North Dakota governor,

WASHINGTON — Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has cleared a vital step in his bid to become Interior secretary.

Former President Donald Trump has chosen North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to head the Interior Department. Some things to know about the two-term Republican governor of a sparsely populated state: Burgum, 68, grew up in tiny Arthur, North Dakota. Arthur's population is 328.

The former North Dakota governor told senators at his confirmation hearing that he saw limits on energy production as a national security threat.

Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing on nomination of Doug Burgum to be secretary of the interior.

Members of the committee had the opportunity to question Burgum on an array of different topics regarding energy, mineral resources and beyond.

Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum's nomination to lead a presidential Cabinet agency was advanced by a U.S. Senate committee on Thursday.