The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has a five-member slate for the first time in over three years. Recently sworn in were Nils J. Diaz and Edward McGaffigan, Jr. Diaz was a professor of nuclear engineering sciences at the University of Florida; McGaffigan, a former foreign service officer, was a senior science and defense advisor to U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). William T. Russell, NRC director of nuclear reactor regulation (NRR), retired September 30. Frank J. Miraglia, NRR deputy director, is now acting director; Ashok Thadani, NRR associate director for technical review, serves as acting deputy director.
John H. Clements was named director of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's office of hydropower licensing. As part of an effort to streamline the office's operations, two separate divisions were combined into the division of licensing and compliance, headed by J. Mark Robinson.
Two congresswomen have joined the bipartisan House Renewable Energy Caucus: Sue Myrick (R-NC) and Nita Lowey
(D-NY). They become the 99th and 100th members of the pro-renewables group.