Obama taps Nobel physicist for energy secretary: reports

President-elect Barack Obama has chosen Nobel prize-winning physicist Steven Chu, a strong advocate of alternative and renewable energy research, to be his energy secretary, US media reported Thursday.

Obama has also decided to name three experienced policy makers and regulators to key environmental jobs, the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times wrote, suggesting the next US president plans to push for a bold shift on climate and energy issues.

Obama has selected Carol Browner, former administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under president Bill Clinton, to fill a position overseeing energy, environment and climate policies, the newspapers reported, citing unnamed Democratic party officials.

Browner once served as legislative director for former vice president and environmental advocate Al Gore when he was a member of the US Senate.

Obama also has decided to name Lisa Jackson, former head of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, to head the EPA. Nancy Sutley, a deputy mayor of Los Angeles for energy and environment, will lead the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the reports said.

The president-elect plans to announce the appointments later this week, the papers said.