WASHINGTON, DC�The US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Thursday approved the nomination of former Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.) to be Energy Secretary in the administration of President-elect George W. Bush.
Abraham lost his reelection bid last fall and left the Senate earlier this month. The full Senate is expected to approve his nomination soon.
As a senator, Abraham cosponsored legislation that would have dismantled the Energy Department and moved most of its functions to other agencies.
During his confirmation hearing Thursday, Abraham told the energy committee that due to recent developments like the passage of the National Nuclear Security Administration Act and the deepening energy crisis, "I no longer support this legislation and its various components, such as the privatization of the federal power marketing administrations."
He said the Bush administration plans a "cooperative effort" with Congress to address high energy prices, tight supply, and growing dependence on foreign producers�although he offered little in the way of details.
"President-elect Bush and I are deeply committed to developing an energy policy that includes increasing domestic production of energy in an environmentally responsible manner, increasing our use of renewable energy, decreasing our reliance on imported oil, and developing new technologies that conserve fossil fuels and reduce energy-related pollution."
Pointing to the nation's increasing dependence on foreign oil�more than 57% now, compared to only 36% during the oil crisis of the 1970s�and to the booming demand for energy, Abraham said the economy is "directly linked to assuring adequate supplies of reasonably priced energy."
He avoided direct statements about opening more public lands for oil and gas drilling or means to increase production. He did make some specific statements supporting continued development of technologies to find cleaner ways to burn coal and advance the use of fuel cells for powering automobiles.
Several western senators, including Frank Murkowski (R-Alas.), Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.), and Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.), were less circumspect than the nominee, castigating the Clinton administration for restricting oil and gas production on public lands. "We have a lot of multiple use lands that ought to be made more available," Thomas said.
Senators also called for an interagency approach to energy issues�involving the Energy Department, the Interior Department, and the Environmental Protection Agency�a concept Abraham said he fully supported.
Murkowski said, "We need to try to generate a balance between a legitimate concern over the environment ... and the reality that energy has to come from some source."
