Scott Northard was recently named the Vice President of Licensing and Common Services for the Xcel Energy nuclear fleet. “Since taking on the role in an acting position late last summer, Scott has continued to move our fleet in a direction that will help position the nuclear department for long-term success in the Xcel Energy portfolio,” said Tim O’Connor, Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer. “I think Scott has both company and stakeholder relationships necessary for our improvement efforts in nuclear. He is a strategic thinker and that is critical for our fleet.”

Responsibilities Northard will oversee in this new role include training, emergency planning, procedures, refueling outages, Fukushima response, regulatory affairs, licensing, and security. “His influence and engagement will also help move Xcel Energy forward as he is the nuclear representative to XPAC board, the Xcel Energy political action committee,” O’Connor continued. “We can ensure our industry’s voice is heard in the political arena with a representative like him, including a strong voice with the Nuclear Energy Institute.

Northard was formerly the USA Director – Fukushima Response and was responsible for developing cost effective solutions for the USA nuclear fleet to address the regulatory and industry response of the follow-on actions from the NRC 50.54(f) request for information letters and the NRC Orders related to the Fukushima Daiichi event in March, 2011. He has more than 37 years of experience in the utility industry and has held cross-functional positions in operational and business support organizations.