Ho Nieh was ceremonially sworn in as a Nuclear Regulatory Commission member on Thursday.
Nieh was confirmed by the full Senate in a 66 – 32 vote Nov. 19. After being sworn in, he is now the first former NRC resident inspector to be a commissioner, according to NRC’s Thursday press release.
Nieh will take the post as a commissioner, filling in the vacated seat that was then held by former commissioner and chair Christopher Hanson. Nieh’s term is set to expire June 30, 2029. Hanson was fired by President Donald Trump on June 13.
Former Nuclear Regulatory Commission chair Christopher Hanson has been hired by the New York Power Authority to serve as a consultant for nuclear energy financing and development.
Hanson, who was fired by President Donald Trump on June 13, will work alongside Todd Josifovski, who is set to join NYPA in January as the senior vice president of nuclear energy development.
Hanson’s hiring comes at a time as New York is looking to add at least 1,000 megawatts of advanced nuclear energy. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced plans for more nuclear power in June.
Nebraska Public Power District, Omaha Public Power District, Lincoln Electric System and Grand River Dam Authority have formed a consortium this week to explore advanced nuclear energy technology.
The new group, named the Great Plains New Nuclear Consortium, will explore the feasibility and development of installing 1,000 to 2,000 new megawatts of nuclear energy within Nebraska. Small modular reactors will also be considered in its evaluation.
The consortium, formed under a memorandum of understanding, will be coordinated by a steering committee led by Nebraska Public Power District with representatives from each participating utility, according to Omaha Public Power District’s Monday press release.
The government of Alberta and the government of Canada have agreed to collaborate on developing a strategy for nuclear generation as a part of a Nov. 27 memorandum of understanding (MOU).
“On or before January 1, 2027, collaborate with Canada to develop a nuclear generation strategy to build and operate competitive nuclear power generation that can serve the Alberta and inter-connected markets by 2050,” according to the MOU.
“In the face of global trade shifts and profound uncertainty, Canada and Alberta are striking a new partnership to build a stronger, more sustainable, and more independent Albertan and Canadian economy,” Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, said in his Nov. 27 press release. “We will make Canada an energy superpower, drive down our emissions and diversify our export markets. We want to build big things, and we’re building bigger and faster together.”
Windjammer Capital announced the completion of its sale of Paragon Energy Solutions to Mirion Technologies this week.
According to Mirion Technologies, the company purchased Paragon Energy Solutions for approximately $585 million in cash. Paragon Energy Solutions, based in Fort Worth, Texas, is a nuclear energy solutions company that provides technical expertise and services.
“Our agreement to acquire Paragon will build on our commitment to the detection, measurement, and analysis of ionizing radiation,” Mirion’s Chair and CEO Thomas Logan said in a release. “The complementary capabilities of Mirion and Paragon will provide nuclear power customers with a more comprehensive suite of product offerings and services to meet their growing needs, just as public and private support for the industry accelerates.”