In Transition

But the creation of that position is still under discussion, say sources close to the transition. One concern, they say, is that the addition of a White House energy office on top of the creation of the new Economic Recovery Advisory Board, and the expected creation of some form of auto bailout council, could feed "big government" criticisms.

One option for elevating energy and climate issues within the White House without creating a new office could be "super-charging" the existing White House Council on Environmental Quality, which coordinates federal environmental efforts, and had a fairly low profile in the Bush administration.

Speculation on who will fill the top slots runs rampant, and transition sources say many of the final decisions could depend on how those positions fit within the broader Cabinet, and Obama's goal of creating a Cabinet diverse in race, gender and geography.

On Monday, it appeared that Lisa Jackson, chief of staff for New Jersey Governor John Corzine and the state's former top environmental official, was close to clinching the nomination to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, according to aides. Jackson is also an adviser to Obama's energy and environment transition team.

Aides and transition sources said that for Energy, Obama may look to bring in the head of an electric utility. The electricity sector is expected to undergo a massive transition under Obama's energy and climate plans, and someone from the industry could guide that policy and help bring along former colleagues, say aides.

Another name being mentioned for Energy is Steven Chu, the Nobel prize-winning director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, an Energy Department lab that employs 4,000 people and focuses on renewable and alternative energy. However, the chances of Chu, who is of Chinese descent, may have diminished with Obama's pick of another Asian-American, retired Army Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, as Veterans Affairs secretary.

Sources close to the transition said the team is also considering "someone really amazing" for Energy - possibly a very high-profile public figure, who would help elevate the profile of the agency and energy policy.

Aides say the choice of an Interior secretary is even less clear. One name being mentioned is California Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson (pictured at left) who is said to be the first choice of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi . But that appointment could bring criticism that California will have too much weight in shaping environmental policy, since Golden State lawmakers also head up the House and Senate panels that will be writing climate change policy. Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, D-Ariz., has also figured prominently in speculation about the Interior post.

A wild card pick for the agency who has been mentioned is Republican Theodore Roosevelt IV, who was until recently a managing director at the now-bankrupt Lehman Brothers, and now holds the same position at Barclays Capital Inc.

One oft-mentioned candidate who won't fill any of those slots: Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius , who announced over the weekend that she was taking herself out of consideration for an Obama Cabinet position.