This Just In: Adults Put Back in Charge at DOE

For the past eight years our energy and environmental policies have been run by children. Here are a few examples of the Bush administration's irresponsibility and lack of foresight, courtesy of Our Broken Government, a new report by the Center for Public Integrity:

• No Robust, Sustained Alternative Energy Policy
• Mountaintop Coal Mining Alters Appalachia
• Foreign Oil Dependence Has Grown
• Toxic Mercury From Coal Plants Unregulated
• Move to a 21st Century Electricity Grid Is Stalled

All of that is set to change with the welcome news of Obama's apparent new Energy Secretary, Steven Chu. Brad Johnson writes:

It's hard to decide if the selection of Dr. Chu is more remarkable for who he is -- a Nobel laureate physicist and experienced public-sector administrator -- or for who he is not. Unlike previous secretaries of energy, he is neither a politician, oil man, military officer, lawyer, nor utility executive. His corporate ties are not to major industrial polluters but to advanced technology corporations like AT&T (where he began his Nobel-winning research) and Silicon Valley innovator Nvidia (where he sits on the board of directors). Chu is a man for the moment, and will be a singular addition to Obama's Cabinet.

Here are some other reactions from around the web.

Joe Romm:

Chu not only has experience running a major federal science lab, the lab he runs is actually responsible for developing the technologies that have paid for all the clean energy research the tax payers have ever supported (see Energy efficiency, Part 5: The highest documented rate of return of any federal program).

Ben Smith:

These are obviously accomplished people and capable administrators. Chu, for instance, has more academic credentials -- hard to beat a Nobel -- and has run a bigger organization than most of Obama's appointees to economic and foreign policy posts.

Adam Siegel, talking Chu up for the job on Tuesday:

Chu understands the potential for reducing GHGs via energy efficiency. He knows technology. He has vision and hope for the ability to create new solutions, even while executing on-the-shelf opportunities. And, Chu clearly understands the challenge that we face with Global Warming.

Daniel Weiss:

He will bring a scientific rigor to President-elect Obama's clean energy and global warming agenda. Following on the heels of the anti-science Bush administration, its like going to Mensa after spending eight years in the flat earth society.

Chris Bowers:

Having a physicist like this in the cabinet means there will be a true science and technology expert within the cabinet, which could bleed over into decisions in other areas. This is someone who will know what is possible in the field, and who should make an excellent contribution to the nation and the world.

The other picks are Lisa Jackson as Administrator of the EPA and Carol Browner as "Energy Czar".

What do you think of the picks?

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Comments

[UnhyphenatedAmerican]

Last summer as gas prices skyrocketed, I did my man-on-the-street interviews. Not one person knew the name of the Secy of Energy. If I asked "who is Sam Bodman?" no one had a clue. Not one knew anything that had happened in the DOE. I googled and found nothing.

I hold the media responsible for allowing the DOE and the Secy to have total obscurity for the last eight years. I also have to be astounded that no Democrat ever raised an eyebrow. Gas station owners and gas users just paid no attention and required no due diligence and no accountability. I think everyone has been asleep while Secy Bodman has been in charge. He was on The Daily Show once and his video seems not to have made it even to the Internet.

Perhaps public will wake up and at least ask questions.

[ImpressedByHonesty]

Best and the brightest. Now we're talkin'.

[TimmySlagle]

"IN 1992, David Halberstam wrote ...The Best and the Brightest.­.. 'is often misused... failing to carry the tone or irony ... intended.'­"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/06/frank-rich-the-brightest_n_149018.html

Or maybe you DID intend irony.