Nuclear group picks TVA's Bill Johnson as governing board chairman

Bill Johnson is seen during a TVA board meeting in February 2014. Johnson became president of TVA after being fired following Duke's merger with Progress, where he was the chief executive.
Bill Johnson is seen during a TVA board meeting in February 2014. Johnson became president of TVA after being fired following Duke's merger with Progress, where he was the chief executive.

TVA President Bill Johnson has been elected as the governing board chairman of one of the regional centers for the World Association of Nuclear Operators, the London-based trade group that represents the operators of nuclear power plants around the world.

Johnson, whose utility will soon add a seventh nuclear reactor at the Watts Bar plant to its nuclear fleet, is also a former chairman and current vice chairman of the Nuclear Energy Institute and vice chairman of the Edison Electric Institute.

"I saw this with no uberous or bias, the United States is the leader is nuclear operations around the world in safety, production and environmental stewardship," Johnson told TVA directors Thursday. "But it's good to see what others are doing around the world."

WANO has regional centres in Atlanta, Moscow, Paris and Tokyo, each with their own regional Governing Boards.

While TVA board members praised Johnson for his industry leadership, anti-nuclear activists said his involvement in such groups that promote nuclear power make him biased in his decision making among alternative energy sources.

"He shouldn't be on board promoting nuclear power - that's a conflict of interest with his role at TVA to help decide on the best energy options for the future," said Garry Morgan, a member of the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense Leaguer and the Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team.

Upcoming Events