Regular Meeting – May 12, 2023

We’ll hear presentations from Craig Piercy, Executive Director/CEO of the American Nuclear Society and Gareth Thomas, Senior Program Manager at Holtec. We will also entertain comments from members of the public and address other commission business.

<< Previous meeting Apr 7, 2023     Next meeting Jun 19 >>

---

Video

---

Agenda

Quorum requirement. We require six (6) commission members in attendance to have a quorum.

91A notice. Group email communications constituting a quorum of commission members are subject to 91A requests. Please email the Chair directly to communicate with the group.

Remote access. Commission members are encouraged to attend in-person. Guests and members of the public are invited to attend either in-person or via Zoom using this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82763227873

Agenda Items

1. Approve minutes of the March 6 and April 7 meetings
2. Public input. Pass sign-in sheet.
3. Presentation – 30 minutes w/ additional Q&A
   
   Craig Piercy serves as the CEO of the American Nuclear Society, a position he has held since November 2019. He has over 25 years of experience in nuclear policy as a congressional chief of staff, associate staff for the House Appropriations Committee, and public affairs advisor for corporations, labs, and universities. During his time on Capitol Hill, Craig led efforts to preserve federal nuclear R&D funding and to accelerate cleanup of the U.S. Department of Energy’s defense nuclear sites. As ANS Washington Representative, Craig played a central role in several high-profile policy victories, including the creation of the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP) and Integrated University Program (IUP) and defeating legislation that would have banned the commercial use of 14 radioisotopes. Craig has a bachelor’s degree in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and is a graduate of the Public Affairs Institute. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with his wife Clare and is an avid skier, canoeist, and Formula One fan.
4. Presentation – 30 minutes w/ additional Q&A
   
   Gareth Thomas is Senior Program Manager and Director of UK Operations at Holtec. Mr. Thomas is responsible for business development and project oversight, including the Small Modular Reactor SMR-160, spent fuel storage projects, decommissioning and nuclear waste projects. He leads strategic partnerships, supply chain development and UK government relations. Mr. Thomas earned an MSc and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Mr. Thomas has 15 years of experience in the nuclear industry.
   The presentation will cover an overview of the SMR, Holtec’s approach to the first commercial project, and expected timelines.
5. Additional public input
6. Commission member discussion
7. Old business
   • US Dept. of Energy’s newly released report – suggested by Matt Levander: Pathways to Commercial Liftoff: Advanced Nuclear
   • Brief review of Movie: Nuclear Now, directed by Oliver Stone, playing May 1 in Newington, NH.
   • Request sent to Executive Council to discuss RSA 162-B: Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy.
8. New business
9. Adjournment

---

Addenda

Official State Government Website for this Commission

Duties of the Commission