The Senate over the weekend confirmed by a voice vote SpencerAbraham, a former senator from Michigan, as the secretary of theDepartment of Energy (DOE).

Abraham was among a group of seven Cabinet nominees who wereconfirmed by the Senate on Saturday immediately after PresidentGeorge W. Bush was inaugurated into office.

Abraham, who has had little first-hand experience in energy,will undergo a baptism by fire at the department, as the first itemon his agenda will be the ongoing, all-consuming power crisis inCalifornia. Many are eager to see whether he will continue hispredecessor’s emergency orders requiring suppliers to make powerand natural gas sales to the near-bankrupt utilities in the state.

So far, the Bush White House has sent mixed signals onCalifornia. Abraham said during his confirmation hearing last weekthat California would be an “urgent priority” of the Bushadministration, but President George W. Bush has indicated thefederal government will play a limited role in trying to resolvethe state’s problems.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is expected tovote out the nomination of Gale Norton for Interior secretary asearly as today. Despite considerable opposition from environmentalgroups, her nomination is expected to clear the full Senate thisweek.

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