Government Energy Policy, Business and Technology

NRC Chair: Nuclear safety regulatory process not to blame for plant retirements

Utility Dive: Prior to the joint meeting of the two regulatory commissions, FERC Chair Kevin McIntyre and DOE Undersecretary Mark Menezes delivered keynote speeches at the Energy Information Administration conference. As expected, nuclear power featured heavily in Menezes'comments, from the U.S. Atomic Energy Act to "the alarming rate of retiring baseload generation." He also said the agency is looking to "potentially site" one or two U.S. modular nuclear reactors.

McIntyre said he trusted DOE Secretary Rick Perry to make the right decision regarding a nuclear and coal plant bailout, indicating that FERC may not have a large role in the subsidy settlement process.

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