Sunday, February 07, 2010
William Magwood IV
William Magwood’s nomination by President Barack Obama to serve on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has come under attack by groups on the left claiming the nominee has too cozy of a relationship with the nuclear power industry. Environmental organizations and government watchdogs oppose Magwood, whose confirmation hearing is scheduled for Tuesday (February 9), because of his long history of supporting and profiting from nuclear power. The opposition argues the NRC needs to have more impartial members on its board.
Magwood’s background includes serving as director of the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy before founding his own energy consulting firm, Advanced Energy Strategies. He also was president of Secure Energy Inc. for four years.
In a letter to Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works which will conduct Magwood’s hearing, the Project on Government Oversight wrote that “Magwood does not have the independence from the nuclear energy industry to effectively regulate the uses of nuclear materials and facilities in the United States, enforce standards necessary to protect health and safety and minimize danger to life or property, and hold licensees accountable for damage to property caused by nuclear accidents.”
-Noel Brinkerhoff
Nuke Commission Nominee William Magwood Faces Questions About Energy Industry Ties (by Steven Spires, OpenSecrets.org)
POGO Opposes Nomination of William Magwood to NRC (Project on Government Oversight)
Comments