NEWS RELEASE

Nuclear Energy Industry Responds to Senate Confirmation of Bill Richardson as New Secretary of Energ

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Senate today confirmed Bill Richardson, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, as Federico Peña's successor as Secretary of Energy. The following is the statement of Joe F. Colvin, president and chief executive officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute, in response to today's Senate action:

"The nuclear energy industry congratulates Secretary Richardson on his confirmation and looks forward to working with him to achieve the energy and environmental goals that depend in large part on the benefits of nuclear technology. Nuclear power is our nation's largest source of emission-free electricity and, for that reason, it will be incumbent upon Secretary Richardson to advance policies that will strengthen nuclear power as a key component of the U.S. energy portfolio.

"At present, the Department of Energy is doing a disservice to the nation by failing to meet its legal obligation to begin managing used nuclear fuel amassing at commercial reactors sites across the country. The status quo is not acceptable, and the industry calls upon Secretary Richardson to see to it that the federal government lives up to its obligation immediately."


The Nuclear Energy Institute is the nuclear energy industry’s policy organization. This news release and additional information about nuclear energy are available on NEI’s Internet site at http://www.nei.org.