Electric Power Research Institute's chief nuclear officer honored

The Electric Power Research Institute's (EPRI) chief nuclear officer, Neil Wilmshurst, received the Energy Leadership Award on Thursday at the Energy Inc. Summit in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The award recognizes significant contributions to the Carolinas' energy sector.

"Neil has significantly increased awareness and application of EPRI’s research across the nuclear sector – locally, regionally and globally,” Michael Howard, EPRI's president and CEO, said. “Everything he’s done since joining EPRI has been with an eye toward enhancing our collaborative business model, shifting the question from ‘Why should I join EPRI?’ to ‘Why aren’t we already a part of EPRI?’ It is gratifying to see him get this deserved recognition."

Wilmshurst oversees more than $170 million worth of collaborative research projects and programs, and under his management, participation in EPRI’s nuclear research programs has increased to 75 percent of global reactors; 2,100 global nuclear energy professionals have attended EPRI's Charlotte nuclear conferences, workshops and user groups in 2014; Charlotte-based jobs in EPRI’s nuclear department have increased by 15 percent over the past two years; and further enhancements have been made in other areas, including cybersecurity, nuclear plant maintenance, flexible operation practices and concrete production.