Energy Czar
Encyclopedia
Energy Czar is a nickname, using the political term "czar"
, for the person in the Government of the United States given authority over energy policy within the executive branch. This has never been the official title of any office, but has often been informally used to refer to various officials since 1971.
Additionally, officials supervising energy policy at State or other sub-Federal levels have also sometimes been called "Energy Czars", for example Richard W. DeKorte
was referred to as the "Energy Czar of New Jersey".
John A. Love, appointed Director of the Office of Energy Policy by President Richard M. Nixon in 1971, was the first to be widely styled as "Energy Czar". In December 1973, Nixon replaced the Energy Policy Office with the Federal Energy Office, which in May 1974 became the Federal Energy Administration
. Heads of these posts (Love was followed by William E. Simon
, then John Sawhill) continued to be styled "Energy Czars" through the Nixon administration, as well as under his successor Gerald Ford
who appointed Frank Zarb to head of the FEA.
In 1977, the United States Department of Energy
was created by the Jimmy Carter
administration. It combined the roles of the Federal Energy Administration with the Energy Research and Development Administration
, and raised the head of the department to a Cabinet level position. The United States Secretary of Energy
(the first being James R. Schlesinger
) took over the role of previous "Energy Czars". The position became more commonly referred to simply as the "Secretary of Energy" and the nickname "Energy Czar" fell out of use.
On December 15, 2008, President-elect Barack Obama
named Carol Browner to the position of Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change. After Obama took office, Browner was appointed director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy
. The nickname "Energy Czar" has sometimes been revived to describe Browner's position.
Czar (political term)
Czar or tsar is an informal title for certain high-level officials in the United States and United Kingdom. Political czars can run or organize governmental departments, and may devote their expertise to a single area of work...
, for the person in the Government of the United States given authority over energy policy within the executive branch. This has never been the official title of any office, but has often been informally used to refer to various officials since 1971.
Additionally, officials supervising energy policy at State or other sub-Federal levels have also sometimes been called "Energy Czars", for example Richard W. DeKorte
Richard W. DeKorte
Richard W. DeKorte was a New Jersey Republican member of the New Jersey General Assembly.Born in Paterson, New Jersey to John I. and Henrietta DeKorte, Richard W. DeKorte was educated at Amherst College and the University of Chicago Law School. DeKorte specialized in Estate Law at the Paterson law...
was referred to as the "Energy Czar of New Jersey".
John A. Love, appointed Director of the Office of Energy Policy by President Richard M. Nixon in 1971, was the first to be widely styled as "Energy Czar". In December 1973, Nixon replaced the Energy Policy Office with the Federal Energy Office, which in May 1974 became the Federal Energy Administration
Federal Energy Administration
The Federal Energy Administration was a United States government organization created in 1974 to address the 1970s energy crisis. It was merged in 1977 with the newly-created United States Department of Energy.-History:...
. Heads of these posts (Love was followed by William E. Simon
William E. Simon
William Edward Simon was a businessman, a Secretary of Treasury of the U.S. for three years, and a philanthropist. He became the 63rd Secretary of the Treasury on May 8, 1974, during the Nixon administration. He was reappointed by President Ford and served until 1977. Outside of government, he was...
, then John Sawhill) continued to be styled "Energy Czars" through the Nixon administration, as well as under his successor Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
who appointed Frank Zarb to head of the FEA.
In 1977, the United States Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
was created by the Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
administration. It combined the roles of the Federal Energy Administration with the Energy Research and Development Administration
Energy Research and Development Administration
The United States Energy Research and Development Administration was a United States government organization formed from the split of the Atomic Energy Commission in 1975...
, and raised the head of the department to a Cabinet level position. The United States Secretary of Energy
United States Secretary of Energy
The United States Secretary of Energy is the head of the United States Department of Energy, a member of the President's Cabinet, and fifteenth in the presidential line of succession. The position was formed on October 1, 1977 with the creation of the Department of Energy when President Jimmy...
(the first being James R. Schlesinger
James R. Schlesinger
Dr. James Rodney Schlesinger is an American politician. He is best known for serving as Secretary of Defense from 1973 to 1975 under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford...
) took over the role of previous "Energy Czars". The position became more commonly referred to simply as the "Secretary of Energy" and the nickname "Energy Czar" fell out of use.
On December 15, 2008, President-elect Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
named Carol Browner to the position of Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change. After Obama took office, Browner was appointed director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy
White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy
The White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy is a new government entity in the United States created by President Barack Obama. Its first director is Carol Browner, who was Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for the eight years of the Bill Clinton administration...
. The nickname "Energy Czar" has sometimes been revived to describe Browner's position.