Chu to be Energy secretary

Posted: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 4:32 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC's Savannah Guthrie
Obama will name Steven Chu his choice for Energy secretary, Lisa Jackson for EPA administrator and Carol Browner as energy "czar" reporting to the president.

It is unclear whether the Browner position is cabinet level.

This will not be officially announced this week.

There will be a news conference tomorrow to announce the Health and Human Services secretary -- expected to be Tom Daschle.

*** UPDATE *** Msnbc.com's Alan Boyle wrote last year about how biology might help fill fuel tanks, and the story included some of Chu’s thinking on energy policy.

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Comments

Wow! A PHYSICIST as Energy Secretary!!??? You mean someone who actual understands SCIENCE overseeing energy policies in the USA?

I don't know about that. Sounds pretty revolutionary to me.

Dr. Zook (Sent Wednesday, December 10, 2008 4:47 PM)

Carol Browner was Clinton's EPA Secretary. I beleive he made it a cabinet level position at the time did he not?

In any case, Browner is knowledgable but has in the past caved in to the politics in the State of Florida when she was Florida's DEP Secretary. At the time then Governor Childress supported a bridge between the shoreline and an island near Tampa. After the State's DEP Specialists conducted studies and found that the bridge would damage the shoreline, sea life and other natural habitat they were over-ruled and the license to build the bridge was approved by DEP. Oh, by the way, the Governor happened to have an interst in some condos that were to be built on this island. Like I say, Browner is knowledagble but as to being a staunch and stand firm environmentalist, I'm not so sure.

C A, Tuscaloosa, AL (Sent Wednesday, December 10, 2008 4:49 PM)

Finally, a Nobel Laureate who believes in green alternative energy will be head of the Energy Dept. buh-bye gasoline and oil, no one will miss you or the dictators of the countries that produce crude oil.

JJD, ABQ, New Mexico (Sent Wednesday, December 10, 2008 4:49 PM)

Wow. The President Elect is actually placing people in their associated positions based on real expertise instead of political affiliations. What a concept! I just hope we The American People are up to the challenges in our personal accountability and are up to the task at hand and not make excuses. This cabinet is composed of exceptional individuals who I hope come up with real solutions. Let not the common American be intimidated by their intellect but rise to the challenge they will present and meet them. Then American will be what it can.

C E A Virginia (Sent Wednesday, December 10, 2008 4:50 PM)

I know his wife, Ahh.

Memphis Belle (Sent Wednesday, December 10, 2008 4:51 PM)

Rumor has it Sarah Palin won't go on Oprah. Something about Palin not liking to appear with anything larger then a moose.

Rock S., Frostbite Falls (Sent Wednesday, December 10, 2008 4:58 PM)

Perhaps I misjudged Obama. He seems to be set things in their proper prospectives.....

John Randazzo, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Sent Wednesday, December 10, 2008 5:05 PM)

Wow, if we could get off of oil, what would Bush and Cheney do? Bread line? One can only hope!

stephanie, ft. pierce, fl. (Sent Wednesday, December 10, 2008 5:08 PM)

Hard to figure how Chu got this job. Looks like California Gov. The front runner for energy Secretary Arnold Schwarzenegger must have got on the wrong side of Bill and Hillary.

Elmer, Seattle (Sent Wednesday, December 10, 2008 5:10 PM)

It has been such a long time coming.. people who are actually qualified to be in positions within our government that may just make things happen. This country has a long way to go to get out of this spiral but I am confident that the new administration will set us on a new course. Change is good!

Laurie Ann, North Little Rock, AR (Sent Wednesday, December 10, 2008 5:14 PM)

All and all I think the President-Elect's cabinet nominees strike a good balance of intellect and passion for their respective fields of work. To be successful, one needs to surround themselves with successful and focused individuals who will welcome the challenge and will represent America and its interests proudly. For me, that sounds like a winning combination for all Americans.

LCorona, Portland, OR (Sent Wednesday, December 10, 2008 5:15 PM)

LCorona, Portland, OR (Sent Wednesday, December 10, 2008 5:19 PM)

I was SO relieved when I heard this news. It's a novel concept really - making a scientist the Secretary of Energy. Amazing. This shows me that Obama is serious about climate change and the environment. I really do feel more confident in the future. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Michelle, Columbus, OH (Sent Wednesday, December 10, 2008 5:21 PM)

Nuurrdds!!! We're BACK!

Kevin, CA (Sent Wednesday, December 10, 2008 5:25 PM)

Good to know that science will be taken seriously in Obama's administration, unlike Bush's. What a concept!

Indie Woman in Denver (Sent Wednesday, December 10, 2008 5:33 PM)

Obama is the man you needed you should be thanking God for the messiah.

Mtagli Alex,, Nrb, Ken (Sent Wednesday, December 10, 2008 5:37 PM)

If I told your there was a "quiet energy revolution", would you oppose or support it?

Golden Sun at the epicenter of a "quiet energy revolution" (Sent Wednesday, December 10, 2008 5:38 PM)

We are praying for a miracle in Appalachia, Wise County. Virginia, third world America.

www.wisecountyissues.com

Tim Mullins - Pound, VA (Sent Wednesday, December 10, 2008 5:42 PM)

WOW !!

Chu beleives that global warming is real

Bush's people that GW was a myth

We could be moving into 'reality based' policies instead of 'faith based' science

Had McCain/Plain been elected, we might have had a witch doctor in charge of the DPA

MSierra, SF (Sent Wednesday, December 10, 2008 5:44 PM)

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