BISMARCK, N.D. (KFGO-AM) - North Dakota Democratic lawmakers want the state's energy regulators to quit promoting oil development and focus solely on oversight.
North Dakota law says the state regulators also are charged with encouraging oil development in the state.
Grand Forks Democratic Sen. Connie Triplett is sponsoring a bill that would that separate the roles.
Triplett told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Thursday that allowing regulators to promote oil development is a conflict of interest.
State Department of Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms is North Dakota's top oil regulator. He spoke in opposition of the bill.
Helms says many other state agencies also are charged with regulating and promoting. He says if the duties aren't stripped from those agencies as well, then the bill smacks of "anti-oil politics."