The Energy Communities Alliance Wednesday urged the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to advance the nomination of longtime Department of Energy hand Theodore (Ted) Garrish to lead the agency’s Office of Nuclear Energy.
“ECA has worked with Mr. Garrish for over 30 years,” said the Energy Communities Alliance (ECA), which represents local governments where DOE installations are based. “Throughout his private and public career, our country and our local government members have benefited from his deep knowledge of the commercial and public research in the nuclear sector in the United States and internationally.”
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump nominated Garrish to lead DOE’s nuclear energy branch. The Garrish nomination was forwarded to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Feb. 3. No hearing date has been scheduled yet.
In the letter to Senate Energy Chair Mike Lee (R-Utah) and ranking Democrat Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), ECA Chair Brent Gerry, the mayor of West Richland, Wash., and ECA Executive Director Seth Kirshenberg, said Garrish should be confirmed for multiple reasons. The ECA officials said Garrish has served in various high-ranking executive and legal posts at DOE as well as the private sector.
“In addition to being a previous Assistant Secretary of Nuclear Energy, his past leadership roles include service as DOE Assistant Secretary for the Office of International Affairs, DOE General Counsel, DOE Assistant Secretary for Congressional, Intergovernmental and Public Affairs, and Federal Inspector of the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System,” according to the ECA letter.
“Garrish has assisted emerging nuclear nations to develop frameworks necessary to launch and grow their nuclear energy capabilities and programs and positioned American commercial interests for export success,” ECA also said in the letter. The organization goes on to laud Garrish for willingness to collaborate with businesses, local communities and tribal governments.
The ECA executives said Garrish’s experience is especially needed at a time when artificial intelligence and other factors are likely to drive demand for more electric generation. As a result, big high-tech companies such as Microsoft, Google and Amazon are looking to invest in carbon-free nuclear energy, ECA said.
“ECA recommends Mr. Garrish to be confirmed as the new DOE Assistant Secretary of Energy,” the letter concludes.
According to its website, the DOE nuclear energy office is charged with extending the lifespan of the current U.S. reactor fleet; furthering development of advanced reactors and fuel cycles and preserving United States leadership in nuclear energy technology.
Pending Senate confirmation of Garrish, the highest ranking official at the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy is Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Michael Goff.
