The New Energy Secretary

[muddbstrd]

Obama's pick for Secretary of Energy has been revealed to be Steve Chu. This is a bit of a surprise, first and foremost because the guy is actually a scientist. To my knowledge, scientists don't normally hold that post. However, given that as head of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory he's been directing his scientists to develop

Comments

[redrocketwestie]

At first I thought of Alex Chiu. I think that would be even funnier.

"Solve the energy crisis with perpetual motion machines of the first kind!"

[muddernh]

Hooray scientists in government helping decide how and if we get $ for good projects.

[muddbstrd]

I'm less excited about him now that I've found heard from a lot of grad students that, while he talks a lot about climate change, he doesn't actually know what he's talking about.

Case in point: he's big on using corn ethanol, which is probably the worst fuel alternative technology and is incredibly damaging to the environment.

[redrocketwestie]

My qualm is, as much as I hate politicians, there's a reason they thrive in political environments. A scientist might have the necessary skills to make educated decisions about policy, but he probably doesn't have the necessary skills not to be played for a chump.

[muddbstrd]

Agreed. However, while not a politician by trade, the guy is up high enough in the science community that must have a good degree of political skill. You don't get to be head of LBNL without it.

[redrocketwestie]

Therein lies the rub. You said yourself he supports corn ethanol, which speaks to a certain weight towards domestic lobbies as opposed to actual science. It would seem you trade one for the other in a mutually exclusive relationship.

In any case, I'll set my expectations low, and hopefully I'll be pleasantly surprised.