Why is "search application provider" eating 90% of my Android CPU?
I believe the 'search applications provider' has something to do with google's internal phone data / app search apk

Either way:

Have you tried going into:

Settings > Applications > Manage Applications > Google Search

Choose 'Clear Data' and also 'Clear Cache'.

Also there is an app in the list called: 'search applications provider' linky , if your really struggling try uninstalling it. From the page linked it looks like other people have! (I've also read some other people back it up and freeze it with titanium backup ((i.e. it's like a safe uninstall)))