21 January 2009

The Cabinet: Energy

Secretary of Energy Steven Chu

Secretary Steven Chu

Steven Chu was sworn in January 21, 2009, as secretary of the Department of Energy. Chu was head of the Berkeley National Laboratory and is a specialist in carbon-neutral energy sources. He also won the 1997 Nobel Prize in physics.

Chu’s Senate confirmation hearing took place January 13, 2009. The text of Chu’s prepared testimony (PDF, 74KB) is available on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee Web site.

See “Obama Announces Science and Technology Team.”

The Department of Energy, established 1977

Mission: To advance the national, economic and energy security of the United States; to promote scientific and technological innovation in support of that mission; and to ensure the environmental cleanup of the national nuclear weapons complex.

Staff: More than 11,000 employees.

Duties: The department promotes energy security and scientific and technological innovation in energy policies, and works to ensure the environmentally safe disposal of nuclear waste.

History: Created in 1977, the department consolidated the Federal Energy Administration, the Energy Research and Development Administration, the Federal Power Commission and other energy-related agencies into one department.

International engagement: The department’s Office of Policy and International Affairs advises the department’s leadership on international energy initiatives, and its Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy works to create partnerships on efficient and renewable energy policies with international organizations. In addition, the Office of Fossil Energy has partnerships with 17 countries to promote and develop fossil fuel technologies.

Fun Fact: Chu is the 78th Nobel laureate affiliated with the Department of Energy or its predecessor agencies.

More information: Department of Energy

(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://www.america.gov)