President Donald Trump designated Republican Commissioner Ho Nieh as chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Thursday evening, a move that was long expected by nuclear observers.
Nieh joined the top U.S. nuclear regulator in December after passing the Senate with bipartisan support. He previously helmed regulatory affairs at Southern Co. when it added two nuclear reactors to Plant Vogtle in Georgia and served as director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation at the NRC from 2018 to 2021.
Two people familiar with NRC operations, granted anonymity to discuss private conversations, told POLITICO’s E&E News that the decision to make Nieh chair over Wright was effectively finalized months ago, before he assumed office as a commissioner.
“It is an honor to have been designated as the Chairman of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission,” Nieh said in a press release. “I am grateful for the opportunity to serve again at this agency that shaped my career and commitment to nuclear safety. I also appreciate the leadership of previous Chairman David Wright in guiding the NRC through a crucial period of transition as the agency embarks on this pivotal period of change.”
