The U.S. Senate on Thursday unanimously approved Ernest Moniz, a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to lead the Energy Department.

Winning on a 97-0 vote, Moniz will succeed Steven Chu, who served as energy secretary in President Barack Obama's first term. Moniz served as an energy undersecretary in the Clinton administration.

A series of energy issues are now in line for Moniz to take decisions. In particular, he has to give a clear answer to whether to expand U.S. natural gas exports.

The possible withdrawal of export control thrilled the manufacturing industry that rides the natural gas boom as the unique edge against their international competitors. The natural gas industry, however, has little incentive under the current low price to invest more to unlock the huge stores.

U.S. law requires the Energy Department to determine that natural gas exports are in the public interest before granting permits to natural gas companies which plan to export to countries that do not have free-trade agreements with the United States.

A recent study commissioned by the department concluded that exporting natural gas would benefit the U.S. economy even if it leads to higher domestic prices.

Besides, the Obama administration seems to put equal weight on renewable energy and traditional fuels in the "all-of-the-above" energy policy. Moniz has a tough job to please either side when guiding the energy investment to wind and solar power or to oil and natural gas. Endi

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