NEI expresses concern that nuclear energy czar position may be eliminated
The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) recently called on the White House’s National Security Council (NSC) to keep its NSC Director for Nuclear Energy Policy position following rumors that it would be eliminated.
The NEI, the U.S. Nuclear Infrastructure Council, the Third Way and the American Nuclear Society sent a letter to the NSC on May 3 stating that the organizations expressed deep concern over rumors that the director of Nuclear Energy Policy position, also known as the nuclear energy policy czar, would be eliminated.
The czar has acted as the liaison between nuclear energy organizations and the U.S. government to expand both domestic and international nuclear policies. Much success has come since the creation of the position, including a new energy deal between the U.S. and India, the Paris Climate Agreement, and the creation of an international nuclear reliability regime.
“The position has become critical to U.S. nuclear companies that are competing with government owned enterprises,” Jeanne Lopatto, vice president of government and international affairs at Westinghouse Electric, said. “Since the position was created we have seen a more comprehensive and unified strategy to promote commercial nuclear energy, which supports the administration’s trade, environmental, and national security objectives.
“Loss of this NSC office will deprive the U.S. nuclear industry of the key coordinating authority in international nuclear matters and will undermine the Obama administration’s commitment to the promotion of nuclear power and to addressing the dangers of climate change.”
The position was created in 2012. The NSC has yet to comment.
