Steven Chu - the new Energy Secretary

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In summary: James Schlesinger - former Sec. Defense (appointed by Carter!) James Schlesinger is a defense expert. He served in the Carter administration as the Secretary of Defense. He has a lot of experience in this field and is a great pick for the position. Charles Duncan - former president of Duncan Coffee and Coca Cola Charles Duncan is a coffee and Coca Cola tycoon. He has experience in the business world, which will be a great help in running the Department of Energy.James Edwards - Dentist/politician James Edwards is a dentist and politician. He has served in the Arkansas legislature and is now a member of the United States House of Representatives
  • #1
Ivan Seeking
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...Announcements to come in the days ahead include several key environment-related appointments -- Steven Chu as energy secretary

...Chu is director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and shared the 1997 Nobel Prize in physics. He was an early advocate for scientific solutions to climate change...
http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed2/idUSTRE4B970320081210

I once had the honor of meeting Dr. Chu.

What a great choice!
 
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  • #2
Wow, we will actually have a nobel laurate running the show. What a great choice.
 
  • #3
In my opinion this is a great choice. One of my biggest criticisms of the Bush administration was their decision to constantly ignore scientific evidence in the formulation of their policies. Now with Obama, we will have a hardcore scientist in one of the top positions in his cabinet. Furthermore, at LBNL, Chu has really been a strong advocate of research into alternative energy sources, which probably speaks a lot about Obama's priorities in his energy policy. Chu may not have much experience in nuclear energy/weapons policy, one of the crucial areas overseen by the DOE, but, I'm sure he'll surround himself with plenty of advisers to help on those issues.
 
  • #4
Samuel Bodman (current energy sec.) has a Sc D from MIT. Guess that's not hard core.
 
  • #5
MIT stands for Missourri Institute of Tapdancing though
 
  • #6
chemisttree said:
Samuel Bodman (current energy sec.) has a Sc D from MIT. Guess that's not hard core.
But he then went into straight into corporate finance for the last 30years.

The real question is wether anyone in the Whitehouse will listen.
 
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  • #7
Beyond that, Bodman is an engineer, not a scientist. His background is hardly comparable to that of Chu.
 
  • #8
chemisttree said:
Samuel Bodman (current energy sec.) has a Sc D from MIT. Guess that's not hard core.
It's hardcore, alright, but it's 60s hardcore.

Also, let's not forget the previous Bush Energy Sec, Spencer Abraham, whose JD from Harvard Law and Senate career must have been useful qualifications. Naturally, you might expect he served on the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee. Umm ... not exactly, but he did serve in the Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee ]and he co-sponsored a bill in 1999, dealing with energy issues (S.896: Department of Energy Abolishment Act).

We need a Sec. of Irony.
 
  • #9
I'm glad to hear about this pick. I'm not convinced about all the cabinet choices so far being good ones, but this one sounds like a good match of skills for the job. When it's a big push for R&D into alternative energies that is needed, it's good to have a scientist on board for setting those policies.
 
  • #10
Gokul43201 said:
he co-sponsored a bill in 1999, dealing with energy issues (S.896: Department of Energy Abolishment Act).

We need a Sec. of Irony.
Abolishing the DoE isn't necessarily a bad idea. The DoE runs particle physics research, renewable energy research and nuclear weapons - not an obvious partnership.
 
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  • #11
And String Theory! No?
 
  • #12
A report from last year

Nobel Prize-winning physicist Steven Chu is leading the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's efforts to develop cleaner forms of energy, including new types of solar cells and new biofuels. He answered viewer questions about his research and the future of alternative fuels.

At the Lawrence Berkeley lab, Chu has focused on developing new fuel technologies to combat global warming. His efforts received a $500 million boost in February, when the energy company BP chose the lab, along with the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, to lead a new Energy Biosciences Institute devoted to developing biofuel technology.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/forum/science/jan-june07/chu_05-02.html [Broken]
 
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  • #13
Gokul43201 said:
Also, let's not forget the previous Bush Energy Sec, Spencer Abraham, whose JD from Harvard Law and Senate career must have been useful qualifications. Naturally, you might expect he served on the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee. Umm ... not exactly, but he did serve in the Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee ]and he co-sponsored a bill in 1999, dealing with energy issues (S.896: Department of Energy Abolishment Act).

We need a Sec. of Irony.

We always have had a Sec. of Irony/Sec. of Energy in that position! (until now, that is)

James Schlesinger - former Sec. Defense (appointed by Carter!)
Charles Duncan - former president of Duncan Coffee and Coca Cola
James Edwards - Dentist/politician
John Herrington - Attorney/politician
James Watkins - Former chairman of AIDS commission, Navy Operations Chief, MS Mech. Eng.
Hazel O'Leary - JD, Rutgers, resigned in disgrace over lavish travel expenses.
Fredrico Pena - JD, Mayor of Denver, headed DOT
Bill Richardson - MA School of Law and Diplomacy, former UN Ambassador
 
  • #14
chemisttree said:
James Schlesinger - former Sec. Defense (appointed by Carter!)
People also tend to forget that Carter graduated from the Naval Academy (finishing in the top 10 percentile of his graduating class), and served in the Navy till his father's death.
 

What is Steven Chu's background in energy?

Steven Chu is a Nobel Prize-winning physicist with a strong background in energy and environmental research. He has served as the Director of the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and as a professor at Stanford University, where he focused on renewable energy and climate change.

What are Steven Chu's responsibilities as Energy Secretary?

As Energy Secretary, Steven Chu is responsible for overseeing the nation's energy policy, including promoting clean and renewable energy sources, managing the country's nuclear weapons stockpile, and supporting research and development in energy technologies.

What are some of Steven Chu's key initiatives as Energy Secretary?

Steven Chu has prioritized energy efficiency and renewable energy as key initiatives during his tenure as Energy Secretary. He has also focused on reducing the country's dependence on foreign oil and developing new technologies to address climate change.

What is Steven Chu's stance on nuclear energy?

Steven Chu is a proponent of nuclear energy as a source of clean, reliable energy. However, he has also stressed the importance of safety and waste management in the development and use of nuclear power.

What impact has Steven Chu had on energy policy so far?

As Energy Secretary, Steven Chu has implemented several policies and initiatives aimed at promoting clean energy and reducing carbon emissions. He has also played a key role in negotiating international agreements, such as the Paris Climate Accord, to address climate change on a global scale.

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