Who will Obama choose as Secretary of Energy?
We have not heard much about who will be chosen as Secretary of Energy in the new administration. The choice of President-elect Obama is a very important decision for retirees generally and especially retirees of the contractors of DOE in Oak Ridge. From the issues related to sharing Part D government contributions to the DOE and their contractors honoring previous commitments and practices, the retirees have had to fight the government all the way, and that has been especially tough against the opposition of President Bush's present Secretary of Energy, Mr. Bodman.
Gas 2.0 has some names and thoughts on the possibilities for Secretary of Energy: They are:
Dan Reicher: The man apparently at the top of the list, Reicher is the Google.org director of Climate and Energy Initiatives and he also served as the Assistant Secretary of Energy in 2000. The Huff Post cites his experience as a successful eco-mined venture capitalist as the reason he is the most talked about for the job. Personally, I think anyone associated with Google is probably a good fit for this country (especially the charitable arm of the company). The company’s desire for positive change and environmental accountability is one to be envied.
Jason Grumet: Grumet is currently Obama’s energy advisor and is reportedly another top candidate for the job. He currently is the executive director of the National Commission on Energy Policy and vaguely resembles Jeff Goldblum circa Jurassic Park (which doesn’t make him any more qualified, just more amusing). Grumet is a Harvard and Brown University grad who also worked as the Executive Dirctor of the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management and already resides in the DC area. His selection looks to be a safe choice considering he has already worked to shape Obama’s energy plan and won’t have to move if selected.
Steve Westley: Current California State Controller and Obama supporter Westley has also had his name tossed into the hat. He worked for President Carter in the Department of Energy’s Office of Solar and Conservation. He was the California co-chair for Obama for America and was also one of the founding executives of eBay. Westley is currently on the board of Tesla Motors and is a managing partner of the Westley Group, a clean technology company. These credentials make him a viable candidate for the position.
Ed Rendell: One of the two governors who have expressed interest in the post. Rendell is a popular Pennsylvania Governor who is facing a precarious situation since his term is over in 2011 and will not be able to run again. Rendell fought hard for Obama after initially supporting Sen. Clinton in the Democratic primaries. He seems like a bit of a long shot, but has expressed interest in taking a post in the Obama administration after his current term of governor is over.
Arnold Schwarzenegger: That’s right. The governator. None other than carbon dioxide combatant of California himself. While I don’t agree with him on all issues, I have to hand it to the guy. He has made energy efficiency a statewide priority and is, in many cases, setting an example that the rest of the United States should be doing their best to follow. President-elect Obama has made it very clear that he will have a bipartisan cabinet, and I can’t think of another Republican I’d rather have as the Secretary of Energy.
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If you have heard other names, please share with comments. Also, share any thoughts on the selection of the Energy Secretary.