The Senate voted 74-26 Thursday to confirm former energy industry executive John Bryson as commerce secretary.
President Obama nominated Bryson in May to replace Gary Locke, who was confirmed as U.S. ambassador to China in August.
Bryson was chief executive of California utility Edison International from 1990-2008 before becoming chairman of BrightSource Energy.
“At such a critical time for our economy, I nominated John because I believe his decades of experience both in the public and private sector have given him a clear understanding of what it takes to put America on a stronger economic footing and create jobs,” Obama said in a statement. “I’m confident he will help us do that, and I look forward to working closely with him in the months and years ahead.”
