Receiving bipartisan support, nuclear physicist Ernest Moniz was confirmed by the Senate as the next Secretary of Energy on Thursday.
The Senate voted 97 to 0 to confirm Moniz to replace outgoing Energy Secretary Steven Chu, who announced plans to retire in February.
Three Republican Senators, Roy Blunt of Missouri, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, and Jerry Moran of Kansas, did not vote.
Moniz, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, served as undersecretary of energy during the Clinton Administration.
President Barack Obama said he was pleased by the confirmation of Moniz, who he called a world-class scientist with expertise in a range of energy sources.
"He also shares my conviction that the United States must lead the world in developing more sustainable sources of energy that create new jobs and new industries, and in responding to the threat of global climate change," Obama said.
The president added, "I look forward to his counsel on these issues as my Administration continues to increase our nation's energy security, strengthen our nuclear security, develop the next-generation of clean energy technologies, and compete for the jobs of the 21st century."
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