ICC Chair Sheahan appointed to Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee

U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry recently appointed Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) Chair and CEO Brien J. Sheahan to serve on the Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee (NEAC) of the Department of Energy (DOE).

“I would like to thank Secretary Perry for the opportunity to serve on this important committee,” Sheahan said. “This is a pivotal time for the nuclear energy industry. Illinois leads the nation in terms of the number of reactors and generating capacity from nuclear power and recent state policy changes affirm strong support for maintaining this essential zero carbon resource. I look forward to sharing my experience and knowledge with the other members of the committee and am honored to have been chosen.”

The committee provides independent advice to the Office of Nuclear Energy on scientific, technical, commercial and programmatic issues. It reviews and provides recommendations on the DOE’s nuclear energy programs. The Committee reports to the Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy and is expected to meet approximately two to three times per year.

Sheahan’s appointment letter asks him to provide advice and expertise on innovation and the modernization of the nation’s utility infrastructure and regulatory paradigms.

“The U.S. nuclear energy sector is at a pivotal point, with transformational and innovative technologies on the horizon,” Ed McGinnis, principal deputy assistant secretary for Nuclear Energy, said. “These members are chosen to reflect our intent of gaining a wide variety of expert advice for the Office of Nuclear Energy as it supports the revitalization and expansion of the U.S. nuclear energy sector.”

Sheahan’s NEAC term is set to expire on Dec. 31, 2019.