The Senate unanimously approved the nomination of Massachusetts Institute of Technology physicist Ernest Moniz as the new energy secretary Thursday, Bloomberg reports.
Jim Snyder writes Moniz will aim to steer U.S. investment in clean energy and help the government determine the amount of natural gas the country will export.
Moniz served as energy under secretary between 2007 and 2011 and succeeds Steven Chu, who announced his departure earlier this year.
Snyder writes Moniz previously led an energy research institute at MIT and also served on a blue ribbon committee responsible for examining issues on nuclear waste during Obama’s first term.
Moniz’s confirmation by a 97-0 vote comes a month after after the Senate approved Sally Jewell as interior secretary.
