Nobel prize winner William D. Phillips, left, is congratulated by physicist Thomas McIlrath prior to a press conference to introduce Phillips on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 1997 in Long Beach, California. Phillips, of the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Md., along with colleagues
Steven Chu and Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, won the Nobel prize for developing novel ways to cool atoms to super-low temperatures with laser light. (AP Photo/John Hayes)
[Click image for details 
]Nobel prize winner William D. Phillips talks to the media on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 1997 in Long Beach, California. Phillips, of the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Md., along with colleagues
Steven Chu and Claude Cohen-Tannoudji, won the Nobel prize for developing novel ways to cool atoms to super-low temperatures with laser light. (AP Photo/John Hayes)
[Click image for details ]U.S. President Barack Obama, fourth from right, and Chinese President Hu Jintao, third from right, walks past U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, second from left, U.S. Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu, second from right, and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, right, during a welcome ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
[Click image for details ]From left U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, U.S. Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke wait for the arrival of U.S. President Barack Obama at a welcome ceremony in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
[Click image for details ]U.S. Energy Secretary
Steven Chu addresses students on the energy and climate challenges facing the international community at the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi, India, Friday, Nov. 13, 2009.
Chu is also a distinguished scientist and 1997 Nobel Laureate for physics. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das)
[Click image for details ]U.S. Energy Secretary
Steven Chu addresses students on the energy and climate challenges facing the international community at the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi, India, Friday, Nov. 13, 2009.
Chu is also a distinguished scientist and 1997 Nobel Laureate for physics. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das)
[Click image for details ]First Lady Michelle Obama and Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, field their questions from National Science Bowl contestants, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, at the Energy Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
[Click image for details ]First Lady Michelle Obama and Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, field questions from Takoma Park Middle School students Avikar Periwal, left, and Alan Du, second from left, and other National Science Bowl contestants, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, at the Energy Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
[Click image for details ]From left, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Maud Olofsson, Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, and Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, take part in the E.U.-U.S. Energy Summit, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, at the State Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
[Click image for details ]Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, second from left, makes remarks during the EU-US Energy Summit, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, at the State Department in Washington. From left are, European Council High Representative Javier Solana, Bildt, Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Maud Olofsson, Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, and Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
[Click image for details ]Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, accompanied by Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Maud Olofsson, speaks at the E.U.-U.S. Summit,Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, at the State Department in Washington. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
[Click image for details ]From left, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, wait for their turn to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on clean energy jobs. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
[Click image for details ]From left, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, wait for their turn to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on clean energy job. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
[Click image for details ]From left, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, wait for their turn to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on clean energy jobs. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
[Click image for details ]Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., left, delivers his opening remarks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on clean energy jobs. Seated behind him , from left are, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
[Click image for details ]Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., left, delivers his opening remarks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on clean energy jobs. Seated behind him , from left are, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
[Click image for details ]Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, left, and Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, listen to a question during a Clean Energy Economy Forum with business leaders at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
[Click image for details ]Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, left, and Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, listen to a question during a Clean Energy Economy Forum with business leaders at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
[Click image for details ]Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, left, listens as Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, talks during a Clean Energy Economy Forum with business leaders at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
[Click image for details ]Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, left, and Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, listen to a question during a Clean Energy Economy Forum with business leaders at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
[Click image for details ]Energy Secretary
Steven Chu and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke answer questions at a clean energy and climate change discussion with business leaders at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building across from the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
[Click image for details ]Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, right, and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke leave the stage after a clean energy and climate change discussion with business leaders, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building across from the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
[Click image for details ]Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, right, and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke answer questions at a clean energy and climate change discussion with business leaders, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building across from the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
[Click image for details ]U.S. Energy Secretary
Steven Chu delivers a speech at the beginning of a general conference of the IAEA, at Vienna's International Center, in Vienna, Austria, Monday, Sept. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)
[Click image for details ]U.S. Energy Secretary
Steven Chu delivers a speech at the beginning of a general conference of the IAEA, at Vienna's International Center, in Vienna, Austria, Monday, Sept. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)
[Click image for details ]U.S. Energy Secretary
Steven Chu delivers a speech at the beginning of a general conference of the IAEA, at Vienna's International Center, in Vienna, Austria, Monday, Sept. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)
[Click image for details ]U.S. Department of Energy Secretary
Steven Chu delivers a speech at the beginning of a general confernce of the IAEA, at Vienna's International Center, in Vienna, Austria, on Monday, Sept. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)
[Click image for details ]U.S. Department of Energy Secretary
Steven Chu delivers a speech at the beginning of a general confernce of the IAEA, at Vienna's International Center, in Vienna, Austria, on Monday, Sept. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)
[Click image for details ]U.S. Department of Energy Secretary
Steven Chu delivers a speech at the beginning of a general confernce of the IAEA, at Vienna's International Center, in Vienna, Austria, on Monday, Sept. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak)
[Click image for details ]Vice President Joe Biden is seen on a video screen in the James Brady Briefing Room in the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, as he speaks via satellite from the White House at an event about green energy initiatives in regards to the economy at Solyndra, Inc., a manufacturer of solar panels, in Fremont, Calif., with Energy Secretary
Steven Chu and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, both not pictured. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
[Click image for details ]Attorney General Eric Holder, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and Energy Secretary
Steven Chu are seen before the funeral Mass Senator Edward Kennedy at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Boston, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Brian Snyder, Pool)
[Click image for details ]From left, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Education Secretary Arne Duncan are seen during a visit to Bethel, Alaska, on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2009, where they held a town hall forum as part of the administration's rural tour. (AP Photo/Dan Joling)
[Click image for details ]U.S. Department of Energy Secretary
Steven Chu speaks at the National Clean Energy Summit 2.0, Monday Aug. 10, 2009 at The Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)
[Click image for details ]Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, left, looks over notes as Energy Secretary
Steven Chu looks on as they participated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding, Tuesday, July 28, 2009, at the State Department in Washington during the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
[Click image for details ]Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, left, and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrive to participate in the signing of a memorandum of understanding, Tuesday, July 28,2009, at the State Department in Washignton during the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. Behind them are Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, right, and Chinese Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Zhang Guobau, center. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
[Click image for details ]Chinese Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Xie Zhenhua, left, shakes hands with Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern, after they signed a memorandum of understanding at the State Department in Washington, Tuesday, July 28, 2009, during the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. Behind them, from left are, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Energy Secretary
Steven Chu and Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
[Click image for details ]Chinese Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Zhang Xiaoqiang, seated left, and Assistant Energy Secretary David Sandalow seated right, sign a memorandum of understanding at the State Department in Washington, Tuesday, July 28, 2009, during the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. Standing behind them, from left are, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, and Chinese NDRC Vice Chairman Zhang Guobao. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
[Click image for details ]Chinese Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Xie Zhenhua, seated left, and Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern, seated right, sign a memorandum of understanding at the State Department in Washington, Tuesday, July 28, 2009, during the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. Stanind behind them, from left are, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, and Chinese NDRC Vice Chairman Zhang Guobao. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
[Click image for details ]Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, poses with, from second from left, Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, and Chinese Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission Zhang Guobao, prior to the signing of a memorandum of understanding, Tuesday, July 28, 2009, at the State Department in Washington during the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
[Click image for details ]US Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu delivers a speech at Tianjin University in Tianjin, China, Friday, July 17, 2009.(Imaginechina via AP Images)
[Click image for details ]US Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu delivers a speech at Tianjin University in Tianjin, China, Friday, July 17, 2009.(Imaginechina via AP Images)
[Click image for details ]US Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu delivers a speech at Tianjin University in Tianjin, China, Friday, July 17, 2009.(Imaginechina via AP Images)
[Click image for details ]US Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu delivers a speech at Tianjin University in Tianjin, China, Friday, July 17, 2009.(Imaginechina via AP Images)
[Click image for details ]US Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu delivers a speech at Tianjin University in Tianjin, China, Friday, July 17, 2009.(Imaginechina via AP Images)
[Click image for details ]US Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu delivers a speech at Tianjin University in Tianjin, China, Friday, July 17, 2009.(Imaginechina via AP Images)
[Click image for details ]US Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu delivers a speech at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, Wednesday, July 15, 2009.
US Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu, told a packed auditorium at Tsinghua University Wednesday (July 15, 2009) morning that the United States was now ready to lead in the fight against climate change.(Imaginechina via AP Images)
[Click image for details ]US Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu delivers a speech at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, Wednesday, July 15, 2009.
US Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu, told a packed auditorium at Tsinghua University Wednesday (July 15, 2009) morning that the United States was now ready to lead in the fight against climate change.(Imaginechina via AP Images)
[Click image for details ]US Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu delivers a speech at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, Wednesday, July 15, 2009.
US Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu, told a packed auditorium at Tsinghua University Wednesday (July 15, 2009) morning that the United States was now ready to lead in the fight against climate change.(Imaginechina via AP Images)
[Click image for details ]US Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu delivers a speech at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, Wednesday, July 15, 2009.
US Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu, told a packed auditorium at Tsinghua University Wednesday (July 15, 2009) morning that the United States was now ready to lead in the fight against climate change.(Imaginechina via AP Images)
[Click image for details ]US Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu delivers a speech at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, Wednesday, July 15, 2009.
US Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu, told a packed auditorium at Tsinghua University Wednesday (July 15, 2009) morning that the United States was now ready to lead in the fight against climate change.(Imaginechina via AP Images)
[Click image for details ]US Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu delivers a speech at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, Wednesday, July 15, 2009.
US Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu, told a packed auditorium at Tsinghua University Wednesday (July 15, 2009) morning that the United States was now ready to lead in the fight against climate change.(Imaginechina via AP Images)
[Click image for details ]U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, second from left, is accompanied by United Technologies Corporation China President Jim Gradoville, left, and unidentified Chinese officers during his visit to China Resources Golden Concord Co-Generation Plant at the Beijing Development Area in Beijing, Wednesday, July 15, 2009. The United States and China both need to cut their carbon emissions and have to start cooperating on science and technology to battle climate change, U.S. Energy Secretary
Steven Chu said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
[Click image for details ]U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, center, smiles as he visit a plant of Cummins Inc., a U.S. engine maker, at the Beijing Development Area Wednesday, July 15, 2009. The United States and China both need to cut their carbon emissions and have to start cooperating on science and technology to battle climate change, U.S. Energy Secretary
Steven Chu said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
[Click image for details ]U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, center, looks at a ISB6.7 diesel engine made by U.S. engine maker Cummins Inc. at a plant in the Beijing Development Area Wednesday, July 15, 2009. The United States and China both need to cut their carbon emissions and have to start cooperating on science and technology to battle climate change, U.S. Energy Secretary
Steven Chu said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
[Click image for details ]U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, center, chats with an unidentified Chinese officer as he look at a turbine inside the China Resources Golden Concord-Co-generation Plant at the Beijing Development Area in Beijing, Wednesday, July 15, 2009. The United States and China both need to cut their carbon emissions and have to start cooperating on science and technology to battle climate change, U.S. Energy Secretary
Steven Chu said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
[Click image for details ]U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, center, chats with Chinese officers as he visit a turbine inside the China Resources Golden Concord-Co-generation Plant at the Beijing Development Area in Beijing, Wednesday, July 15, 2009. The United States and China both need to cut their carbon emissions and have to start cooperating on science and technology to battle climate change, U.S. Energy Secretary
Steven Chu said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
[Click image for details ]U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, center, looks at the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) designed by Cummins, a global power leader that designs, manufactures, sells and services diesel engines plant at the Beijing Development Area in Beijing, Wednesday, July 15, 2009. The United States and China both need to cut their carbon emissions and have to start cooperating on science and technology to battle climate change, U.S. Energy Secretary
Steven Chu said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
[Click image for details ]President Barack Obama delivers remarks about innovation in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Thursday, July 2, 2009, following his meeting with business leaders. Energy Secretary
Steven Chu is at left, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson is second from left. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
[Click image for details ]U.S. Energy Secretary
Steven Chu speaks about global warming, at Bismarck State College on Wednesday, July 1, 2009 in Bismarck, N.D. During the visit to Bismarck State College,
Chu said stimulus money from the U.S. Energy Department will help pay for a project to reduce carbon dioxide pollution at a Basin Electric Power Cooperative plant in west-central North Dakota. (AP Photo/The Bismarck Tribune, Will Kinkaid)
[Click image for details ]President Barack Obama, accompanied by Energy Secretary
Steven Chu, delivers remarks on the energy bill, Monday, June 29, 2009, in the Grand Foyer of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
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