Richardson Takes Over at Department of Energy
Yesterday, on his first day in the job, new Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson met with DOE employees to discuss his thoughts on, and priorities for, the Department. As he begins his tenure at DOE, Richardson has been asked by President Clinton to continue to serve as the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations into September, when nominee Richard Holbrooke will hopefully be confirmed to the U.N. position.
Richardson praised DOE’s scientific and technological accomplishments, but referred to them as an area “where I, by the way, consider myself very weak.” He commented that he was glad to have Ernie Moniz, formerly chair of the MIT Physics Department and OSTP Associate Director for Science, as DOE Under Secretary.
As a former congressional representative from New Mexico, Richardson made the point that his state was “basically a DOE state.... It was in New Mexico that we developed and tested the world’s first nuclear device,” he noted, “and now, it is in New Mexico where we have built the world’s first geological repository...for nuclear waste.”
Richardson stressed repeatedly that DOE employees are servants of the American public. “We serve the American people every time we certify that the nation’s nuclear stockpile is safe, secure and reliable,” he said. “We serve them every time we make a breakthrough on an energy efficient technology that will help us tackle the challenge of global climate change.... We serve them every time one of our scientists is recognized for innovations that will have a revolutionary impact on society.” He promised efforts to help the public become more aware of the valuable services performed by the Department, in part by establishing a consumer affairs office.
As important missions of the Department, Richardson cited the Comprehensive National Energy Strategy, the nuclear weapons Stockpile Stewardship Program, the Comprehensive Electricity Competition Proposal, Accelerated Clean Up and Closure of nuclear weapons sites, and DOE’s national laboratories, which, he said, “continue to garner honors from the highest echelons of the scientific community.”
The major challenges he foresees include dependence on foreign oil, growing greenhouse gas emissions, electric utility monopolies, nuclear proliferation, and cleanup of nuclear weapons production sites. He remarked that “some of the President’s highest priorities fall within the purview of our Department,” including global climate change and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
In summary, Richardson said, “We have a strong foundation built upon a history of excellence in science and technology.... And we have an enormous opportunity to make vital contributions to the future of our nation. I look forward to seizing that opportunity with all of you.”
