Carl Junction man among 23 appointed by Kehoe to MO Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force

(From Gov. Mike Kehoe)

Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced a slate of 23 members appointed to the newly formed Missouri Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force.

Established by Executive Order 26-04, Missouri's Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force is charged with evaluating and guiding the state’s strategic approach to nuclear energy development. The task force is the next step forward in an action plan developed following Missouri’s first Nuclear Summit, where more than 550 scientists, lawmakers, local leaders, citizens, and stakeholders convened in Columbia last July to join the conversation about the future of energy in Missouri.

Governor Kehoe will kick off the inaugural meeting at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 11, at the Lewis and Clark State Office Building in Jefferson City. Media may RSVP with communications@dnr.mo.gov.

“Combined with the upcoming Missouri State Energy Plan, the members of our Advanced Nuclear Task Force will help chart a clear and strategic path forward for Missouri’s energy future—one that supports reliable power, economic opportunity, and long-term energy resilience for communities across the state,” said Governor Kehoe. “New energy sources will support U.S. energy dominance and reduce reliance on energy imports.”

Governor Kehoe has tasked Missouri’s State Energy Office, housed within the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, as the state’s lead on the task force.

“We are honored to have Governor Kehoe lead the beginning of what we hope will be many fruitful conversations on the future of nuclear energy for Missouri,” said Kurt Schaefer, Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. “This is an important step forward to transforming existing conceptual plans for new nuclear deployment in Missouri into definitive and actional projects.”

Missouri Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force members include the following individuals, as outlined in Executive Order 26-04:

Director Kurt Schaefer, of Columbia, will serve as chair of the task force. Schaefer serves as the director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.Kayla Hahn, PhD, of Jefferson City, will serve as vice chair of the task force. Hahn is chair of the Missouri Public Service Commission.

Senator Mike Cierpiot, of Lee’s Summit, is chair of the Missouri Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy, and the Environment.

Representative Bob Bromley, of Carl Junction, is chair of the Missouri House of Representatives Committee on Utilities.

Director Michelle Hataway, of Jefferson City, is director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

Representing investor-owned electric utility companies operating in Missouri:

Robert Dixon, of Washington, is vice president of regulatory & legislative affairs for Ameren Missouri.Noel Black, of Washington, D.C., is chief regulatory and external affairs officer at Liberty Utilities (Algonquin Power and Utilities Corporation).

Jaime McCoy, PhD, of Spring Hill, KS, is site vice president at Evergy Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Station, and is a native of Puxico, Missouri.

Representing municipal electric utilities:

Steven Stodden, of Columbia, is president and chief executive officer of the Missouri Public Utilities Alliance.

Representing Missouri electric cooperatives:

Caleb Jones, of Columbia, is executive vice president and chief executive officer of Missouri Electric Cooperatives.

Representing a non-profit organization working to expand affordable electricity in Missouri:

Jared Hankinson, of Columbia, is vice president of governmental relations at the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Representing Missouri higher education institutions with nuclear science programs:

Marisa Chrysochoou, PhD, of Columbia, is dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Matt Sanford, of Columbia, is executive director of the University of Missouri Research Reactor.

David Borrok, PhD, of Rolla, is vice provost and dean of the College of Engineering and Computing at Missouri S&T.

John Brockman, PhD, of Columbia, serves as director of research and education for the University of Missouri Research Reactor.

Joseph Newkirk, PhD, of Rolla, is founder and chair of the Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science Department at Missouri S&T.

Representing Missouri's agriculture industry:

Ben Travlos, of Ashland, is director of policy at the Missouri Soybean Association.

Other members appointed by the Governor:

Warren Brooks, of Rogersville, is vice president of electrical operations and electrical supply at City Utilities of Springfield.

Douglas Healy, of Ozark, is an attorney at Healy Law Offices, LLC, an energy law firm.

Scott Strawn, of Kansas City, serves as senior vice president and general manager of power at Burns & McDonnell.Julie Carter, of Lake Ozark, is the director of the Office Workforce Development at the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development.

Scott Ramshaw, of St. Louis, serves as a government relations and business development professional for the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562.

Representative John Black, of Marshfield, serves as a Missouri State Representative for District 129.

For more information about the task force, its members, and future meetings, visit Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force | Missouri Department of Natural Resources.