Lipman to Lead New NEI Supplier and International Programs Division

WASHINGTON, DC,, Feb. 18, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Nuclear Energy Institute is increasing its focus on supplier and international programs as part of a new division that will be led by Daniel Lipman. Lipman has been elected vice president for the Suppliers and International Programs Division by NEI's Executive Committee.

NEI has worked for several years to fully integrate its supplier programs and activities with NEI's government affairs, communications and legal divisions to increase support of its member companies that are leaders in the global nuclear energy marketplace. The new organization will enhance these efforts, specifically focusing on the strategic needs and direction of NEI's supplier members.

Lipman will lead the development of industry strategies for supplier issues, including international trade agreements, export financing, import/export controls, small modular reactor (SMR) deployment, uranium fuel supply programs and emerging domestic business opportunities. The division also will manage international activities such as NEI involvement in trade missions and coordination of industry participation in international policy meetings.

Lipman has led key supplier issues at NEI as executive director for Policy Development and Supplier Programs. Before joining NEI in 2012 as a loaned executive and as part of its leadership team in 2014, Lipman spent 31 years with Westinghouse Electric Corp. He was among the Westinghouse leadership team that brought the AP1000 advanced-design reactor to market both in the United States and internationally.

"Dan has extraordinary leadership experience in international trade and policy issues and will be a strong leader for advocating the industry's priorities in these areas," said Marvin S. Fertel, NEI president and chief executive officer. "His expertise in the international energy markets is recognized around the world, and he has testified before Congress on nuclear energy market, technology and regulatory issues. With 69 nuclear reactors currently under construction around the world and 183 new nuclear plant projects in the licensing and advanced planning stage, commercial opportunities for U.S. vendors and suppliers are found increasingly in international markets, and Dan will lead industry efforts to capture a share of that market."

The creation of a separate Suppliers and International Programs division also allows NEI to strengthen its Policy Development and Planning division. This organization will continue to be led by Richard Myers, vice president of Policy Development and Planning, and will manage NEI's work on market and other business issues, environmental policy, strategic planning, policy analysis, economic analysis and other energy and economic studies.

NEI is responsible for establishing unified nuclear industry policy on regulatory, financial, technical and legislative issues affecting the industry. NEI members include all companies licensed to operate commercial nuclear power plants in the United States, nuclear plant designers, major architect/engineering firms, fuel cycle companies, and other organizations and individuals involved in the nuclear energy industry.

U.S. nuclear energy facilities in 30 states produce about 20 percent of U.S. electricity. Nuclear energy facilities in 2013 generated 63 percent of America's carbon-free electricity and prevented 589 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

The Nuclear Energy Institute is the nuclear energy industry's policy organization. This news release and additional information about nuclear energy are available at www.nei.org.