The linchpin of American energy independence is the mechanism for bulk distribution of energy from coast to coast.  That is a national electricity grid- a backbone of very high voltage electricity lines designed not to go 10s of miles inside of the region of a utility, but to go interstate distributing energy from solar and wind farms in the west to large population centers in the northeast. 

Such an electricity grid will have powerful enemies.  When regions are isolated, utilities have market power, but when a grid connects them, energy can be purchased from other providers, driving up competition and driving costs down.  A bulk electricity transmission grid is a threat to big fish in small ponds, because when all ponds are connected, one large fish is unable to control what goes on in the pond.

The central job for any energy czar will be construction of the national grid.  It need not interfere with established systems within regional authorities, anymore than an interstate highway system dictates what states may do with their own state highways, and cities do with their own arterials. 

Such a czar will be subjected to intense political and psychological pressure to trim the giant agenda not just with the energy grid, but in establishing petroleum and vehicle policies that will revolutionize the oil and authomotive industries. 

The person must have a formidable will, already be intimately aware of energy policy, especially the building of power transmission infrastructure with a demonstrated ability to face down energy industry adversaries and be unafraid to be decisive.

It is a challenging list of requirements.  Is there anyone in America that could rise to the challenge with vigor?

There is: Arnold Schartzenegger. 

One side benefit- the vacated governor spot goes to democrat John Garamendi, endorsed by Sierra Club, Al Gore, etc.  There will be a lot of infrastructure $$$ to California, and a democrat ought to get the political payoff for the next election in 2010.