The US Senate approved President Donald J. Trump's nomination of former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to be Secretary of Energy by 62 to 37 votes on Mar. 2. Democrats Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.), Joe Donnelly (Ind.), Heidi Heitkamp (ND), Claire McCaskill (Mo.), Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Debbie Stabanow (Mich.), Tom Udall (NM), and Mark Warner (Va.), along with Independent Angus S. King (I-Me.), voted aye with Senate Republicans.
The move puts Perry in charge of a federal department he once proposed eliminating during his 2012 campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, a view he disavowed in his hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee earlier this year (OGJ Online, Jan. 19, 2017).
"This is a critical time for the Department of Energy, and it needs steady leadership as we pursue the broad benefits of innovation and greater security for our nation's energy infrastructure," that committee's chair, Chair Lisa Murkowski (R-Alas.), said following the vote.
"[DOE's] scientists and our national labs are vital to that effort, and I believe Gov. Perry will be a strong partner as we focus on everything from reducing rural energy costs to advancing the Alaska gas pipeline project," she indicated.
The committee's ranking minority member, Maria E. Cantwell (D-Wash.), voted against Perry's nomination. She questioned his ability to defend DOE's key research and development functions in an administration seemingly committed to eliminating them.
Perry also signed an order to expedite permits for 11 new coal-fired power plants in Texas when he was governor, 8 of which were cancelled after a court overturned the order, Cantwell added. "[This] shows you the kind of leadership that we cannot afford at [DOE]. This should not be about holding onto the past. It is about planning for the future," she maintained.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.) defended Perry's record as governor following the Mar. 2 confirmation vote. "Under [his] leadership, the Texas economy soared. And thanks to his commonsense approach to regulation and support for thoughtful innovation, Texas became a state where all energy producers could thrive," Cornyn said. "Under Secretary Perry's guidance, I have no doubt {DOE] will pursue an all of the above strategy that will lead to the next great era of American energy."