Steven Chu - the new Energy Secretary

[Ivan Seeking]

...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!

 

[waht]

Wow, we will actually have a nobel laurate running the show. What a great choice.

 

[Ygggdrasil]

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.

 

[chemisttree]

Samuel Bodman (current energy sec.) has a Sc D from MIT. Guess that's not hard core.

 

[Office_Shredder]

MIT stands for Missourri Institute of Tapdancing though

 

[mgb_phys]

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.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Beyond that, Bodman is an engineer, not a scientist. His background is hardly comparable to that of Chu.

 

[Gokul43201]

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.

 

[Moonbear]

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.

 

[mgb_phys]

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.

 

[Gokul43201]

And String Theory! No?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

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

 

[chemisttree]

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

 

[Gokul43201]

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.