Recent Events

January 2012
While the nuclear industry is learning from the tragedy in Japan, it is also important to realize that new, passive designs being built today would have performed exceptionally well and offer the latest innovations in nuclear energy and safety. U.S. leadership in these technologies can mean jobs in America, higher safety standards worldwide, energy security, and economic returns. At Women In Government’s 18th Annual State Directors’ Conference, some legislators were able to tour the near-by Palo Verde nuclear facility, and later at the conference, Maria Lacal from that facility spoke to all the legislators. Maria Lacal is the Vice President of Operations Support for Arizona Public Service Company (APS), Arizona’s largest electric company. Ms. Lacal spoke about the how the facility works, and her responsiblities for nuclear-related support activities associated with the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, the nation’s largest power producer. To learn more, please view her presentation here.

August 2011
At Women In Government's Third Annual Energy Summit, nuclear energy was one of the topics discussed. While the nuclear industry is learning from the tragedy in Japan, it is also important to realize that new, passive designs being built today would have performed exceptionally well and offer the latest innovations in nuclear energy and safety. The U.S. leadership in these technologies can mean jobs in America, higher safety standards worldwide, energy security, and economic returns. Kate Jackson is the senior vice president and chief technology officer at Westinghouse Electric Company, responsible for leading the company’s research and development activities. She leads the company’s environmental sustainability initiatives aimed at minimizing the impact of global business activities on the environment. Dr. Jackson serves on the board of directors for ISO New England, Inc., responsible for operating New England’s bulk power system and wholesale electricity market and managing the region’s comprehensive planning processes. Dr. Jackson is also an advisor to Carnegie Mellon University’s Engineering School and the Complex Engineered Systems program, and is on the advisory board of the Carnegie Mellon Electricity Industry Center. She spoke to Women In Government about being one of the few top women in the nuclear world and about her work. She discussed the importance of lowering our reliance on foreign. If you had your lifetime of power used by nuclear, it would fit into about two thirds the size of a coke a cola can. Regardless, the waste needs to be dealt with, largely because people are afraid of nuclear waste. She also spoke about the Fukushima incident in Japan. The nuclear plant handled the major earthquake without any issues, and according to protocol. The tsunami, however, was a “double whammy” of sorts and because the nuclear plant was shut down as protocol of the earthquake, it was totally devastated by the tsunami. This tragic disaster has taught nuclear facilities across the world on increasing emergency preparation measures. In the United States, we had an emergency system in place so that every nuclear plant that can exist on emergency power for three full days. Since Fukushima, nuclear facilities have increased the nuclear safety measures so that the plants can exist without outside power for at least seven days. They have developed simpler designs that require simpler self-sustaining power capabilities. For more information, please see her presentation which is available here.

July 2011
At Women In Government's 18th Annual Midwestern Regional Conference nuclear energy was a featured topic. Cynthia Pederson, the Deputy Regional Administrator of Region III for the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, spoke about the federal safety protocols the industry has and how regional United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission offices may be a helpful resource to legislators. Her presentation is available here. Dennis Koehl, the Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer of Xcel Energy, spoke about what the response has been in regards to the incident in Japan, and what his company has done to learn lessons and be aware of leadership structures. His presentation is available here.

March 2011
Women In Government and the Nuclear Energy Institute Co-host a Webinar on the Latest Status of the Japanese Nuclear Reactors. National experts on reactor operations, operation safety, management of used nuclear fuel, emergency preparedness and response, among other topics, were available to answer questions for Women In Government. The webinar featured Martin Hug, Senior Project Manager of Emergency Preparedness at the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI); Leslie Kass the Senior Director of Business Policy and Programs from NEI; and Marcus Nichol, Senior Project Manager of Used Fuel Management & Storage at NEI. Please click on the following link below to access the Webinar Materials, the PowerPoint Presentation and page of Frequently Asked Questions. Also, please follow this link to access a recording of the webinar.

January 2011
At Women In Government's 17th Annual State Director's Conference & Ninth Biennial First-Term Legislators Conference, energy issues continue to be an important issue for legislators.  In a session entitled, Nuclear Energy 101, legislators were provided with an overview of the political landscape regarding the use of nuclear energy, and were able to discuss the necessity of balancing safety, environmental protections, and security, with the need for balanced energy portfolios. They heard three excellent speakers from different perspectives of the energy industry. Peter Dietrich, the Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station at Southern California Edison spoke about the security aspects involved with the everyday running of a nuclear generating facility. Delegate Sally Jameson from the Maryland State Legislature spoke about the basics through a legislative perspective. You can review her materials here. Ruth Ravitz Smith, the Senior Vice President of Global Government Relations at GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy also spoke on nuclear energy as a positive energy recyclable fuel solution, and her materials are also available here.

In the News

Southern Nuclear’s construction and operating license for the two-reactor Plant Vogtle expansion in Georgia was approved on February 13, 2012 by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Read more.

 New nuclear reactor design could open up unconventional markets and help power suburbs. Read More.