The Senate voted 62-35 on Thursday to invoke cloture on Chris Wright’s nomination to lead the Energy Department.
The procedural step sets up a final vote on Wright’s confirmation for early next week.
Wright is the CEO of Colorado-based oil field services company Liberty Energy. He would lead a department that maintains the country’s nuclear weapons arsenal and oversees the network of national laboratories.
The department was also at the center of the Biden administration’s efforts to dole out funds for domestic manufacturing and clean energy — which is currently undergoing thorough review by the Trump administration.
If confirmed, Wright — who faced questions during an earlier hearing on his previous comments on climate change and Democrats’ climate law — pledged to work to expand energy production, accelerate innovation and technology breakthroughs and cut red tape for energy projects.
Josh Siegel contributed to this report.
