Ernest Moniz in the race to replace Stephen Chu as Energy Secretary

MIT nuclear physicist Ernest Moniz has entered the race for Energy Secretary. Moniz served as undersecretary at the Eenergy Department for the Clinton administration. (PHOTO: DONNA COVENEY)

 

According to a report from Reuters issued last Wednesday, nuclear physicist Ernest Moniz is now a potential candidate to replace Stephen Chu as the U.S. Energy Secretary. Moniz is currently one of President Obama’s science and energy advisors.

Moniz has previous experience in Washington, serving as undersecretary at the Energy Department for the Clinton administration. He has also spoken with many lawmakers in the nation’s capital about our nation’s newly discovered natural gas reserves; something he believes will one day overtake coal as the nation’s dominant source of electricity.

Moniz is also part of MIT’s Energy Initiative, a research group funded by energy companies such as BP and Chevron, that focuses on reducing carbon emissions.

Other potential candidates for the position include Daniel Poneman, deputy secretary of Energy; Farallon Capital Management hedge-fund founder Tom Steyer; Jim Rogers, utility-industry CEO; Byron Dorgan, former senator from North Dakota; Bill Ritter, former Colorado governor; Christine Gregoire, former Washington governor; and Dan Reicher and John Podesta, former Clinton administration officials.