Jaczko’s NRC
Nicolas Loris /
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) member Gregory Jaczko has been chosen by President Obama to be the next Chairman of the NRC. Before joining the NRC’s commission, he served as Senator Reid’s science policy advisor and also served as congressional science fellow for House Member Edward Markey. When first appointed to the commission in 2004, Reid said, “I am pleased we were able to reach a deal that places a strong, independent voice on the NRC while ensuring that nearly a hundred other federal posts will be promptly filled.”
Reid’s stance on Yucca Mountain, the geologic repository in his state to permanently store waste, is fairly well known. Needless to say, Jaczko’s confirmation as an NRC commissioner was quite controversial.
Jaczko, who forecasts long delays ahead for US nuclear energy development, recently acknowledged, “We now find ourselves making some of the same mistakes of the past.” As Chair of the NRC, there’s a number things Jaczko can lead the commission to do that will increase the chances for a successful nuclear renaissance in the United States. Chief among these are: