Senate To Vote On Nominee To Lead Energy Department

The U.S. Senate will vote on the nomination of Ernest Moniz on Thursday.

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He’s expected to pass with ease.

Moniz cruised through his committee vote 21-1. That lone dissent came from South Carolina Republican Tim Scott.

Scott’s concern was whether Moniz would scuttle plans for the MOX nuclear facility in South Carolina. That project would convert weapons grade nuclear material into energy.

So Scott’s home state colleague, Republican Lindsay Graham placed a hold on the nomination.

Last week, Graham quietly removed his hold and Moniz is expected to sail through Thursday afternoon.

Moniz, who directs MIT’s Energy Initiative, was under secretary for energy during the Clinton administration. He’s long advocated increasing the use of both natural gas and nuclear power.