President-Elect Obama has chosen Colorado Senator Ken Salazar (D) to be Interior Secretary and he has reportedly accepted the nomination. He has also tapped Chicago School Superintendent Arne Duncan to be Secretary of Education.

Salazar’s departure means that yet another Senate appointment will be coming. It is possible Governor Ritter (D) would name Salazar’s brother, Congressman John Salazar, to the seat but he is more likely to select a more liberal choice according to many sources.

Obama has also named key figures for his energy and environmental team including Steven Chu for energy secretary, Lisa Jackson for Environmental Protection Agency administrator, former Clinton EPA chief Carol Browner as the energy and climate “czar,” and Nancy Sutley to head the White House Council on Environmental Quality. The selection of these new posts suggest that the Energy and Environmental cabinet posts could be more symbolic with policy being run out of the White House