Budget & Policy

Recommendation Would Avoid Call For Drastic Move to DoD, Independent Agency Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 8/1/2014 The Congressional advisory panel on the governance of the nuclear security enterprise is solidifying the recommendations it will make in its final report and is preparing to call for the authority of the National Nuclear Security Administration to be […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 8/1/2014 AIKEN, S.C.—Lawmakers gathered at the Savannah River Site early this week voiced optimism about keeping construction going on the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility project in Fiscal Year 2015, but Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said the future of the project remains unclear and is subject to sustained funding for the […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 8/1/2014 Language in the Senate Appropriations Committee version of the Fiscal Year 2015 Energy and Water Appropriations Act unveiled last week includes a subtle warning to the National Nuclear Security Administration about future contract consolidation across the weapons complex. The committee was previously skeptical of the NNSA’s consolidation of the Y-12/Pantex […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 8/1/2014 A new report from Harvard University’s Belfer Center criticizes the Obama Administration for backing off its nuclear nonproliferation plans and calls on Congress to restore at least $100 million in nonproliferation cuts in Fiscal Year 2015. The report, “Cutting Too Deep: The Obama Administration’s Proposals for Nuclear Security Spending Reductions,” […]

Mike Nartker NS&D Monitor 8/1/2014 With no explanation, the Department of Energy abruptly changed the management of the DOE Berkley Site Office late last week. Paul Golan was named acting director, replacing Aundra Richards, who had headed up the Berkley Site Office since 2005. Golan also continues to serve as Director of the DOE SLAC […]

NS&D Monitor 8/1/2014 IN CONGRESS The Senate is continuing to slowly confirm the Obama Administration’s nuclear nominees, clearing Brian McKeon as the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy this week. He was confirmed by voice vote. McKeon, who was nominated to the position in January, had his nomination held up over GOP concerns […]

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As is our annual practice, ExchangeMonitor Publications will not publish weekly issues during the first two weeks of August. During this time, Morning Briefing will be published only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Normal publication schedules will resume Aug. 18.  

A new report released yesterday by Harvard University’s Belfer Center criticizes the Obama Administration for backing off its nuclear nonproliferation plans and calls on Congress to restore at least $100 million in nonproliferation cuts in Fiscal Year 2015. The report, “Cutting Too Deep: The Obama Administration’s Proposals for Nuclear Security Spending Reductions,” notes that the […]

The Senate continued slowly confirming the Obama Administration’s nuclear nominees, clearing Brian McKeon as the Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy yesterday. He was confirmed by voice vote. McKeon, who was nominated to the position in January, had his nomination held up over GOP concerns about potential Russian violations of the Intermediate Nuclear […]

Lawmakers gathered at the Savannah River Site yesterday voiced optimism about keeping construction going on the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility project in Fiscal Year 2015, but Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said the future of the project remains unclear and is subject to sustained funding for the facility. Moniz and National Nuclear Security Administration chief […]

Paul Golan has been named acting manager of the Department of Energy’s Berkeley Site Office, replacing Aundra Richards, WC Monitor has learned. The move was effective late last week. Golan, who currently serves as manager of the SLAC Site Office, will continue to serve in both positions. It remains unclear why the change was made […]

Language in the Senate Appropriations Committee version of the Fiscal Year 2015 Energy and Water Appropriations Act unveiled last week includes a subtle warning to the National Nuclear Security Administration about future contract consolidation across the weapons complex. The committee was previously skeptical of the NNSA’s consolidation of the Y-12/Pantex management and operating contract, and […]

Mike Nartker WC Monitor 7/25/2014 Ohio Senator Rob Portman (R) pushed the Obama Administration’s choice to serve as the next No. 2 official in the Department of Energy this week on the need for adequate funding for the Portsmouth D&D project in his home state. Fluor-B&W Portsmouth, LLC, has recently issued notices warning that as […]

Mike Nartker WC Monitor 7/25/2014 Senate appropriators want to reverse the Obama Administration’s proposed funding cut for Hanford in Fiscal Year 2015, according to additional details released this week of the Senate version of the FY 2015 Energy and Water Appropriations bill. Work managed by the DOE Richland Operations Office at Hanford came in for […]

Magwood Sets Departure Date, Enviro. Groups Still Call for Resignation Jeremy L. Dillon RW Monitor 7/25/2014 The Obama Administration this week nominated Stephen Burns and Jeff Baran to fill open spots on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The duo had been viewed as likely candidates for the openings for some time. Burns previously worked for the […]

Martin Schneider RW Monitor 7/25/2014 Senate appropriators provided strong backing for centralized interim storage of spent fuel in the FY 2015 Energy and Water Appropriations bill released by the full Appropriations Committee this week, though there is not expected to be further action on the legislation in the Senate. The full Senate Appropriations Committee had […]

Martin Schneider RW Monitor 7/25/2014 The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s regulations governing security of radiological sources are drawing concern from Senate appropriators, who including language aimed at forcing more stringent controls in their version of the FY 2015 Energy and Water Appropriations bill released this week. The bill would direct the NRC to establish mandatory security […]

Jeremy L. Dillon RW Monitor 7/25/2014 Nye County, Nev., home of Yucca Mountain, intends to fight back against the state of Nevada’s planned request for additional funding for activities related to squashing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s licensing review of the proposed repository for the nation’s high-level nuclear waste. Two weeks ago, Nevada’s Board of Examiners, […]

Martin Schneider GHG Monitor 7/25/2014 Senate appropriators matched the Obama Administration’s $475 million request for the Department of Energy’s fossil energy R&D program in the FY 2015 Energy and Water Appropriations bill released by the full Appropriations Committee this week, though there is not expected to be further action on the legislation in the Senate. […]

Abby L. Harvey GHG Monitor 7/25/2014 Environmental Protection Agency chief Gina McCarthy defended the EPA’s recently proposed emissions reductions standards for existing coal-fired power plants in testimony before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee this week. “We’re doing exactly what everybody has asked EPA to do for a long time, which is, ‘You set […]

Abby L. Harvey GHG Monitor 7/25/2014 Investing in innovative energy technologies in the coal industry is a worthwhile risk, Tom Fanning, Southern Company Chief Executive Office said this week at an event in Washington sponsored by the Bipartisan Policy Center and the American Energy Innovation Council. Southern Co. owns the Kemper Country Energy Facility, a […]

Abby L. Harvey GHG Monitor 7/25/2014 While a national carbon tax could drive innovation in clean energy technologies, the feasibility of such a measure was questioned this week by a panel of experts at an event sponsored by the Bipartisan Policy Center and the American Energy Innovation Council. “A carbon tax is part of a […]

Abby L. Harvey GHG Monitor 7/25/2014 Construction began this week on a 2 megawatt carbon capture pilot project at Kentucky Utilities’ E.W. Brown Generation Station in Harrodsburg, Ky. The post-combustion system being tested at the plant was developed by the University of Kentucky’s Center for Applied Energy Research (UKCAER) and will be managed by the […]

Abby L. Harvey GHG Monitor 7/25/2014 Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz said this week that his Department is ready and willing to help invest in new promising energy technologies, particularly when it comes to utilizing its remaining loan guarantee authority.  “I want to say here, I want to make it very clear; we have approximately […]

Abby L. Harvey GHG Monitor 7/25/2014 In a 2-1 decision, a state appellate court ruled this week that the Illinois Commerce Commission has the authority to require other state utilities to foot some of the bill for the costly FutureGen 2.0 carbon capture and storage project. Commonwealth Edison Co. (ComEd) and a group comprised of […]

Abby L. Harvey GHG Monitor 7/25/2014 Fuel switching is key to developing the most cost-effective implementation plans to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s new proposed emissions reduction regulations for coal-fired power plants, representatives from the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the Rhodium Group said this week in presenting the preliminary findings of a […]

GHG Monitor 7/25/2014 ON THE INTERNATIONAL FRONT India plans to double its clean energy tax in its FY 2015 budget, Minister of Finance Arun Jaitley announced last week. The tax, known as the ‘Clean Energy Cess,’ is levied on coal, peat and lignite to finance clean energy initiatives and fund research. In his announcement, Jaitley […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 7/25/2014 In comments that appear to signal a softening against the battered Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility under construction at the Savannah River Site, Deputy Secretary of Energy nominee Liz Sherwood-Randall this week called MOX the Obama Administration’s “preferred solution” for plutonium disposition before squarely placing the onus for funding the […]

Todd Jacobson NS&D Monitor 7/25/2014 Senate appropriators fully funded the Obama Administration’s $643 million Fiscal Year 2015 request for refurbishment work on the B61 bomb, but according to documents finally released by the panel this week, it appears they did so grudgingly, and with considerable reservations. Led by Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee Chair […]