I know this comes as a shock to most people. But the Department of Energy has almost nothing to do with energy - that is interior, mostly.
Most of the DOE's budget goes to nuclear weapons, cleaning up the Manhattan project legacy, and basic scientific research (they own all the big accelerators and laboratories).
They have a small portfolio in gas and oil stuff, but it's like crying in a hurricane. It isn't even very much.
Yes there is the abuse of loan guarantees for failed green energy projects - but that is not the DOE's real mission.
Very true. I think I like paterfamilias suggestion; fold Energy into Interior and have Palin as Interior Sec.