After days of speculation, President-elect Donald Trump officially selected former Texas Governor Rick Perry to lead the Energy Department. As many have pointed out, the Energy Department was the department that Perry forgot he wanted to eliminate in a 2011 Presidential Debate. Now, Perry will become Energy Secretary if confirmed which he likely will be.

In a statement released to the media, Trump pointed to Perry's record of success as Governor of Texas as part of the reason he was selected.

"As the Governor of Texas, Rick Perry created created a business climate that produced millions of new jobs and lower energy prices in his state, and he will bring that same approach to our entire country as Secretary of Energy,” Trump said in a statement. "My administration is going to make sure we take advantage of our huge natural resource deposits to make America energy independent and create vast new wealth for our nation, and Rick Perry is going to do an amazing job as the leader of that process."

Texas' current Governor Greg Abbott weighed in on Perry's selection.

“President-elect Trump continues to surround himself with individuals who share his commitment to overhauling the job-killing regulatory environment created by the Obama administration. Under Rick Perry’s leadership in Texas, the Lone Star State experienced unprecedented growth in the energy sector, which in turn created hundreds of thousands of jobs for Texans. Rick Perry was instrumental in creating a more favorable regulatory environment for the energy industry in Texas, and I have no doubt that he will bring that same expertise to his new post. The State of Texas looks forward to working with him to help advance America’s energy sector to create a more robust economy and greater opportunity for all Americans.”

Senator John Cornyn and Senator Ted Cruz also applauded Perry's selection as Energy Secretary.

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