Bodman told Bush he wanted to "carry forth your vision of sound energy policy to ensure a steady supply of affordable energy for America's homes and businesses and to work toward the day when America achieves energy independence."
Bodman took over as Treasury deputy secretary last February after serving as deputy secretary at the Commerce Department.
At Treasury, he was charged with a range of matters, including making sure the economic recovery is lasting, stopping the flow of funds to terrorists and helping efforts to modernize the IRS.
The Energy Department manages the nation's emergency petroleum reserve. Despite frequent calls by some Democrats to use some of these reserves to ease prices, the administration has argued repeatedly that the stored oil should be used only in time of severe shortages.
Bodman said his new job would "combine all aspects of my life's work." He has taught chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, served as president of Fidelity Investments, and run a chemical company. He graduated from Cornell University with a degree in chemical engineering in 1961 and has a doctorate in science from MIT.
The new energy secretary will have to deal with high oil and natural gas prices, and help the Bush administration win congressional approval to allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska Dec 10, 2004 — A major spill of dense, viscous fuel from a freighter that ran aground was menacing sensitive wildlife habitat in the Aleutian Islands, but finding the six crew members lost at sea was the priority despite their diminishing odds for survival.
No sign of the missing crew had been found as of Friday morning. Petty Officer Amy Thomas said aircraft were not searching in the dark but would fly out at first light late morning. Two cutters were at the scene of the grounding and another cutter with oil vacuuming equipment was en route and expected to arrive by Saturday morning, Thomas said.
Thousands of gallons of heavy bunker fuel and diesel spilled from a soybean freighter that was ripped clean in half off the shore of Unalaska Island. Near a wildlife refuge, the area is home to sea lions, harbor seals, sea otters, tanner crabs, halibut and kelp beds.
But with resources scarce in the harsh area 800 miles southwest of Anchorage, the search for the missing took precedence over the environmental threat.
