Energy Secretary Chu Stepping Down

Energy Secretary Steven Chu is stepping down, following last week’s announcement that Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is leaving the Obama administration.

Chu offered his resignation to President Obama in a letter sent Friday, the Associated Press reported. He will stay on at least until the end of February and may remain at DOE on until a successor is confirmed, AP said.

In addition to Chu and LaHood, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson are leaving their posts in the second Obama administration.

The White House said no decisions have been made on replacements for any of positions, but said the president’s priorities will remain unchanged, AP said.

Potential replacements for Chu include former North Dakota Sen. Byron Dorgan, former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and former Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, all Democrats, AP reported.