The recently developed Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group, under the Public Utility Commission of Texas, will be hosting their first public workshop to explore nuclear energy opportunities for Texas. Governor Greg Abbott addressed the Interim Chair of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT), Kathleen Jackson, on August 16th, stating that Texas must now look at nuclear energy as a new form of power. The job of the PUCT will be to explore if nuclear energy is an avenue Texas should explore as a new form of reliable and affordable power. Governor Abbott established the working group as a way to gather stakeholders who hold relatable experience with the proper federal agencies and institutions of higher learning, among other groups, to discuss how nuclear energy can be harnessed and implemented.
Commissioner Jimmy Glotfelty has been named as the leader for this nuclear power exploration. Glotfelty has extensive experience working with and overseeing the study and implementation of energy and power. He has served as the Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary of Energy, as the Energy Policy Director to the late Governor of Texas George W. Bush, and has also served as Legislative Director for a congressman. Glotfelty is also the founder and manager of the Office of Electricity within the U.S. Department of Energy and helped lead the United States-Canada Power System Outage Task Force.
As the leader of the Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group, Glotfelty will oversee and host the first informal public workshop. This workshop is scheduled to be held on Thursday, September 28th at 2 pm in the Commissioners' Hearing Room in Austin, Texas. In a press release announcing the working group's first meeting, Commissioner Glotfelty expressed his enthusiasm for nuclear energy, stating that "Nuclear energy is reliable, technologically advanced, and has great potential to help Texas meet its future power needs. I look forward to bringing industry, state and federal agencies, and Texas' leading research universities to the table to chart a path forward."
The goal of the workshop is to gather input and insights from various stakeholders to determine the feasibility and potential benefits of nuclear energy in Texas. The Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group aims to collaborate with industry experts, state and federal agencies, and leading research universities to chart a path forward for nuclear energy in Texas. The workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to discuss the advantages, challenges, and potential solutions related to nuclear energy.
The establishment of the Advanced Nuclear Reactor Working Group and the hosting of the first public workshop demonstrate Texas' commitment to exploring new ways to create energy and diversify its power sources. By considering nuclear energy as a viable option, Texas aims to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable energy for its residents.
