Rick Perry, former governor of Texas, has been sworn in as head of the Energy Department after the Senate confirmed his appointment via a 62-37 vote.
Perry said in a statement published Thursday that he will support DOE’s efforts to “provide stable, reliable, affordable and secure sources of American energy.”
He also aims to maintain a secure nuclear deterrent;Â reduce the threat of nuclear proliferation; and continue the environmental clean-up from the Cold War nuclear mission.
President Donald Trump nominated Perry for the energy secretary post in late 2016.
DOE said Texas created nearly 2.2 million jobs and reduced the state’s carbon footprint by 17 percent, sulfur dioxide by 56 percent and nitrogen oxide by 66 percent during Perry’s 14-year tenure as governor.
Perry is a U.S. Air Force veteran and former agriculture commissioner in Texas.
