Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a vocal supporter of the coal industry, was officially tapped Tuesday to be the top Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee next Congress.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced Manchin’s rise to ranking member status Tuesday afternoon, a move that environmental groups had dreaded.

Environmental groups had urged Schumer to block Manchin from leading Democrats on the committee, which has oversight of key energy programs that relate to climate change.

But Schumer feared setting bad precedent about Democratic seniority rules.

In a statement, Manchin vowed Tuesday to work with senators of both parties on an "all-of-the-above" approach to energy. He did not mention climate change.

"The problems facing our country are serious, and I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find common sense solutions for the long-term comprehensive energy policy that incorporates an all-of-the-above strategy and ensures our state and our nations are leaders in the energy future," he said.

Manchin is a devout supporter of the coal industry, a cornerstone of the economy in his state.

He also has a working relationship with President Trump. He has encouraged Trump to take action to save retiring coal and nuclear plants. Manchin met with Trump recently in the Oval Office, where the two discussed coal miners’ pension reform, among other issues.

Manchin last week dismissed critics of his green credentials, telling reporters, “I don’t think they’re senators.” To prove his bona fides, Manchin recently flipped his vote on Trump’s nominee to join the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, a panel of independent energy regulators, on the grounds that the candidate, Bernard McNamee, downplayed climate change and supports fossil fuels.

The spot opened up for Manchin because the current energy committee ranking member, Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., is switching to be the top minority senator on the Commerce Committee, a transition that Schumer also made official Tuesday.

Other liberals with seniority over Manchin on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee have said they are not interested in taking over, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the former presidential candidate and proponent of action to combat climate change, who is keeping his ranking member role on the Budget Committee.