CATF Statement: Dismissal of NRC commissioner undermines nuclear deployment and oversight
WASHINGTON – On Friday, President Trump abruptly fired U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Commissioner Chris Hanson without cause. The NRC is the independent federal agency responsible for regulating the safe use of nuclear materials in civilian applications, including overseeing the operation of the nation’s nuclear power plants.
“This unprecedented move threatens the NRC’s independence and could erode public trust in the safety of nuclear energy, limiting the U.S.’s ability to deploy new nuclear reactors at scale,” said Clean Air Task Force Executive Director, Armond Cohen.
Nuclear energy is a carbon-free, always-available energy source that provides nearly 20% of U.S. electricity generation, and maintaining public trust in its safety is critical to expanding its role in a lower-emissions, energy secure future. President Trump’s removal of Commissioner Chris Hanson marks the first time in U.S. history that an NRC commissioner has been removed—with or without cause.
Cohen continued: “An independent safety regulator is fundamental to the successful operation and deployment of commercial nuclear energy. Removing clearly qualified commissioners can undermine public confidence in the regulatory process, reduce regulatory certainty, discourage investment in new nuclear projects, and destabilize nuclear industry planning across future administrations.”
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About Clean Air Task Force
Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global nonprofit organization working to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalyzing the rapid development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. With more than 25 years of internationally recognized expertise on climate policy and a fierce commitment to exploring all potential solutions, CATF is a pragmatic, non-ideological advocacy group with the bold ideas needed to address climate change. CATF has offices in Boston, Washington D.C., and Brussels, with staff working virtually around the world. Visit catf.us and follow @cleanaircatf.
