Energy Secretary Steven Chu has resigned as Energy Secretary, reports the Washington Post
The resignation was widely expected and follows the resignations of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Environmental Protection Agency chief Lisa Jackson and Jane Lubchenco, head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The turnover of the cabinet is typical at the start of a president’s second term.
One of Chu’s biggest accomplishments as Energy Secretary was coming up with a way to stop the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico “when no one else could figure it out.” said President Obama. “And that’s typical of the incredible contributions that he’s made to this country.” Chu also pushed the President’s green agenda.
“Thanks to Steve, we also expanded support for our brightest engineers and entrepreneurs as they pursue groundbreaking innovations that could transform our energy future,” Obama said.
But Chu was also blamed for the $528 million federal loan to solar panel maker Solyndra. The company went bankrupt and 1,100 workers loss their jobs.
