The US Senate voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to confirm Gina Raimondo as secretary of commerce, elevating to President Joe Biden’s cabinet a forceful advocate of action on climate change whose support helped build the first US offshore wind farm.

Raimondo is the latest in a series of climate action-friendly Biden appointments that also includes energy secretary Jennifer Granholm and interior secretary Debra Haaland.

The vote was 84-15. Raimondo, 49, is a former venture capitalist who is serving her second term as the first female governor of Rhode Island.

In her new position, Raimondo will be point person for promoting the nation’s economic growth at home and overseas and arbitrating multiple international trade disputes covering imports including aluminum, solar panels, steel, and wind turbine towers used by the clean energy industry.

China was a prime target of tariffs under former President Donald Trump who accused Beijing of unfair trading practices and intellectual property theft. The Patent and Trademark Office is a DoC agency.

Biden wants to end dependence on China for lithium-ion batteries, rare earth minerals, semiconductors and other goods and services necessary for domestic clean energy manufacturing capability. This includes offshore wind that the administration sees as $50bn or more economic development opportunity this decade, mainly on the Atlantic coast.

Raimondo’s department also includes the National Institute of Standards and Technology, whose mission is to promote innovation and industrial competitiveness, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which under Biden will play a key role helping keep both the White House and public informed of the changing climate and environment.

Block Island pioneer

During her confirmation hearing, Raimondo pledged to “lead with science and data.” As governor, Raimondo signed an executive order that set a 2030 goal for Rhode Island to achieve 100% renewable power.

With her political support, Rhode Island became birthplace for the US offshore wind industry. Local developer Deepwater Wind installed a five-turbine, 30MW array in state waters near Block Island that began commercial operation in late 2016.

Since then, east coast states have made commitments to procure almost 30GW of offshore wind capacity. Orsted acquired Deepwater in 2018 for $510m.

During her six years in office, Raimondo has gained a deep appreciation of concerns within the commercial fishing industry in New England over the potential economic impacts of both climate change and shallow-water offshore wind farms.

That awareness will help her at DoC, whose National Marine Fisheries Service is responsible for stewardship of marine resources in US waters that extend beyond state territorial limits.

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Offshore wind champion Raimondo confirmed as US commerce chief