Nancy Sutley, an energy official for the city of Los Angeles, is Obama's choice to head his White House Council on Environmental Quality, according to the aides.
Browner, 52, would be charged with coordinating environment and energy initiatives across the administration, the aides said.
Browner, who is part of Obama's transition advisory board, told reporters on Dec. 1 the new position wouldn't change the roles or duties of the secretaries of Energy and Interior or the EPA administrator.
"Every department retains all of its statutory responsibilities," Browner said. "These are offices and councils that bring together all of the authorities that rest in individual departments creating more opportunity to do the kind of things that the president wants to do."
Browner, EPA administrator under former President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 2001, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment today.
Environmental Background
Sutley currently is deputy mayor for energy and the environment in Los Angeles and served previously in similar positions in the state's government. As head of the Council on Environmental Quality, she would oversee the White House panel that advises the president on national and international environmental issues. Officials in Sutley's office also didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Obama is expected to name his main energy and environmental candidates this week or next, said the aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of the formal announcement.
