Energy Secretary Steven Chu expressed enthusiasm for his job yesterday but ducked questions about how long he'd be doing it.

"I love what I'm doing," Chu said on the sidelines of the U.S. Conference of Mayors' winter meeting in Washington, D.C.

So would he stick around for President Obama's second term? "It remains to be seen," Chu said.

The rumor mill has Chu announcing his departure this week from the Department of Energy. DOE's response: "Dr. Chu is focused on his job as secretary each day and hasn't made any announcements about his future plans," spokesman Bill Gibbons said.

Obama already has vacancies at two major environment posts: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson have announced their intention to leave (Greenwire, Jan. 16).

Thomas D'Agostino, administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration, is also stepping down today. NNSA Deputy Administrator Neile Miller will take on his duties until the administration finds and the Senate confirms a replacement (E&E Daily, Dec. 28, 2012).

In his speech to the mayors, Chu warned about climate change triggering dangerous storms and flooding.

"Scientists will tell you, 'Don't get excited about one bad year,' and absolutely, I'll agree with that," Chu said. "You can get worried about 30 years."

Chu also said he expects DOE's budget to shrink in the coming years, and the department will need to find creative solutions to support energy efficiency, renewables and infrastructure development.

"We don't expect our budget to go up. We expect it to go down," he said. "What we're trying to do now ... for the next four to 10 years, is think very hard about things like revolving funds." EPA uses revolving funds to promote improvements in wastewater and drinking water infrastructure.

Reporter Ellen M. Gilmer contributed.