• About
  • Join the Co-op / Donate
  • Contact
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
The Brief
NB MEDIA CO-OP
Share a story
  • Articles en français
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Gender
  • Politics
  • Culture
  • Videos
  • NB debrief
  • Articles en français
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Gender
  • Politics
  • Culture
  • Videos
  • NB debrief
No Result
View All Result
NB MEDIA CO-OP
No Result
View All Result
Home Economy

Questions about the NB Power VP Nuclear & Chief Nuclear Officer

by NB Media Co-op
January 14, 2020
Reading Time: 4min read
Questions about the NB Power VP Nuclear & Chief Nuclear Officer

Image: Lepreau reactor and NB Power VP Nuclear Photos from our archives and LinkedIn

The NB Media Co-op sent the following questions via email to NB Power on Jan. 8, 2020. This story was updated with responses from Marc Belliveau, a spokesperson for NB Power, on Jan 17, 2020. The utility never responded to some of the queries.
 
The NB Media Co-op revisited this story on April 4, 2023, after the CBC reported that Brett Plummer, NB Power’s VP of nuclear energy, is receiving a salary of approximately $1.3 million this year, about 30 per cent higher than previously stated by the utility.

***

For all NB Media Co-op stories about nuclear energy, click HERE.

In these articles and commentaries, different authors raise important questions about the viability of the Point Lepreau nuclear reactor and the technology in the proposed small modular nuclear reactor projects.

We are now developing a story about the extent to which NB Power has the ability to assess the viability of the technology of the proposed SMNR projects in an unbiased and appropriate manner.

Could you please respond to the following questions about Brett Plummer, NB Power Vice-President Nuclear & Chief Nuclear Officer. We understand that Mr. Plummer’s primary responsibility is the sustainable operation of NB Power’s Lepreau nuclear reactor.

1. The provincial government recently released its latest annual report of public sector salaries. NB Power President and CEO Gaëtan Thomas is included as the highest paid public servant in the report. NB Power has four vice-presidents. Three are listed in the report, along with their salaries, but Mr. Plummer is not included. Can you explain why Mr. Plummer is not included in the official government list of public sector employees and their salaries?

2. In January 2017, CBC published a story revealing that NB Power at that time paid Mr. Plummer a salary of $500,000 US annually, which was higher than the salary of the NB Power CEO. Can you confirm if Mr. Plummer’s salary continues to be higher than the NB Power CEO?

NB Power response: Mr. Plummer is under contract with the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station. As such, his salary is reflected very much as it would be with a company, as he does not have the same benefits as a regular employee of NB Power.

3. In his NB Power role, Brett Plummer is listed as a team member of the Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA). The CNA identifies its primary objective as: “Create and foster a political environment and reasonable regulatory framework for advancing the nuclear industry in Canada.” Can you confirm if Mr. Plummer is working on behalf of NB Power to advance the nuclear industry in Canada?

4. The NB Media Co-op was informed that in 2019, Brett Plummer made a series of presentations promoting small modular nuclear reactors to communities across New Brunswick. Can you clarify the purpose of these community visits and provide us with a list of the communities visited? Is his presentation available for the public to review?

NB Power response: Point Lepreau is providing expertise on nuclear development in relation to SMRs and that was the spirit in which Mr. Plummer has participated in public meetings or meetings with stakeholders.

5. As an NB Power vice-president, what was Mr. Plummer’s role in the Joi Scientific project? The Telegraph Journal reported that three NB Power executives travelled to Florida to validate the technology before NB Power approved the project. Was Brett Plummer one of these three?

6. Mr. Plummer was trained in nuclear technology when he served with the US Navy. Does he have any continued relationship with the US military?

NB Power response: He is not affiliated today with the military and has no affiliation with the Joi project.

7. Mr. Plummer’s biography on the NB Power website lists several academic qualifications related to technology and nuclear technology that we were unable to confirm with the listed academic institutions:

“Bachelor of Science in Technical Business from New Hampshire College” – we contacted Southern New Hampshire University, formerly known as New Hampshire College, and requested the back catalogues to determine the requirements for this degree. After reviewing these, we were unable to find a degree program in “Technical Business” but there were degree programs with similar names. Could you clarify the year Mr. Plummer graduated and the exact name of his degree program?

“Associate of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering Technology from the University of New York” – We contacted New York University who informed us that there is no “University of New York” but there are other similarly sounding names. Could you clarify the year Mr. Plummer graduated and the exact name of the institution that awarded his degree?

NB Power response: In respect to his credentials, they have been reviewed through federal processes prior to being hired at Lepreau.

8. Is there any other information you can share about Mr. Plummer’s academic qualifications related to nuclear energy technology and his interests related to the proposed SMNR projects in New Brunswick?

**

Thank you, we look forward to your responses. We appreciate your assistance with providing information in the public interest about activities supported with public funding.

Tags: Canadian Nuclear AssociationLepreauNB Powernuclearsmall modular nuclear reactorsUS military
Send

Related Posts

U.S. imperialism claws into Sisson as Northcliff/Todd stalls for time
Environment

U.S. imperialism claws into Sisson as Northcliff/Todd stalls for time

May 26, 2025

Canada and its provinces, collectively and individually, are desperately seeking ways to counter and protect against the unpredictability of U.S....

Will New Brunswick choose a ‘small, modular’ nuclear reactor that’s not small at all (among other problems)?
Energy

Nuclear energy means climate action delay

April 15, 2025

What is the best way for utilities to delay the transition from fossil fuels? Propose to build nuclear reactors. Electricity...

NB Power review: few details and no climate action requirement
Energy

NB Power review: few details and no climate action requirement

April 14, 2025

Ongoing concerns about energy poverty and spikes in NB Power bills sparked public protests earlier this month. On Monday, Premier...

‘Low-income tenants can’t keep their lights on,’ activists tell NB Power [video]
Poverty

‘Low-income tenants can’t keep their lights on,’ activists tell NB Power [video]

April 2, 2025

Anti-poverty campaigners from NB ACORN are calling for a moratorium on NB Power rate hikes and a ban on winter...

Load More

Recommended

Dominant colonizer society must hold essentials of life as sacred

Dominant colonizer society must hold essentials of life as sacred

2 days ago
Brian Beaton Annual Prize in Journalism for Justice / Le prix annuel de journalisme Brian Beaton pour la justice

Les candidatures sont ouvertes pour le prix annuel de journalisme Brian Beaton pour la justice

6 days ago
Nominations open for Brian Beaton Annual Prize in Journalism for Justice

Nominations open for Brian Beaton Annual Prize in Journalism for Justice

6 days ago
Water, air and land should be our “sacred sons and daughters”

Water, air and land should be our “sacred sons and daughters”

1 day ago
NB Media Co-op

© 2019 NB Media Co-op. All rights reserved.

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Join the Co-op / Donate
  • Contact
  • Share a Story
  • Calendar
  • Archives

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • Join the Co-op / Donate
  • Contact
  • Share a Story
  • COVID-19
  • Videos
  • New Brunswick
  • Canada
  • World
  • Arts & Culture
  • Environment
  • Indigenous
  • Labour
  • Politics
  • Rural

© 2019 NB Media Co-op. All rights reserved.

X
Did you like this article? Support the NB Media Co-op! Vous avez aimé cet article ? Soutenez la Coop Média NB !
Join/Donate