Energy Secretary Steven Chu to step down
Energy Secretary Steven Chu testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee on Capitol Hill November 17, 2011 in Washington, DC.
Photographer: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Posted: 02/01/2013
WASHINGTON - Energy Secretary Steven Chu is stepping down.
The Energy Department said Friday Chu has offered his resignation to President Barack Obama. Chu won a Nobel Prize in physics but came under questioning for his handling of a solar energy loan.
Chu is a former director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. He drew fire from Republicans who criticized his handling of a $528 million federal loan to solar panel maker Solyndra, which later went bankrupt, laying off its 1,100 workers.
The White House said Chu retained Obama's confidence, but Chu was widely expected to leave following Obama's re-election last fall.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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