First energy chief loses state job

Gov. Bev Perdue's energy chief, Assistant Commerce Secretary John Morrison, says he has been forced out of his job.

"It's been decided that new leadership is needed for energy," Morrison said. Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco told him of the change last week, he said.

Morrison said there was no "precipitating event" but couldn't discuss the circumstances further. He will leave at the end of this month.

In filling a newly created position, Morrison was responsible for coordinating the state's energy programs, staffing a new Energy Policy Council and promoting the governor's focus on green-energy jobs.

He came to the job with engineering degrees from Yale and Stanford universities, a Harvard MBA and a long résumé in business and energy. Before his appointment, Morrison had been chief operating officer of Advanced Energy, a Raleigh nonprofit research agency.

Deputy Secretary Dale Carroll told Commerce employees in a memo last week that Morrison would be stepping down. The memo applauded Morrison's work as the state Energy Office moved into Commerce, a home-weatherization program was reorganized and stimulus programs were expanded.

"That work is not complete and we will miss John's leadership, but through the transition and beyond the Energy Division will continue to be an important part of our work," it said.

Assistant Secretary Katharine Neal, the department's chief spokeswoman, said bye-mail that Crisco was traveling and she had nothing to add.

Morrison joined the department in May, officially taking his post as assistant secretary for energy in August. He said he will return to the private sector.