Richland, WA
The Energy Northwest Executive Board has found the agency's new chief executive officer in the plant's ranks.
Brad Sawatzke, chief operating officer and nuclear officer, has been filling in as temporary chief executive officer this spring.
The executive board named Sawatzke the permanent CEO during its meeting in Pasco on Thursday.
He'll be responsible for the only nuclear power plant in the Pacific Northwest, the Columbia Generating Station near Richland. Energy Northwest, which has about 1,100 employees, also has wind, hydroelectric and solar projects.
His annual salary will be $711,000.
"The executive board is extremely pleased with Brad's acceptance to lead the agency," said Sid Morrison, board chairman. "His passionate leadership and commitment to excellence is contagious, which is exactly what we were looking for."
Former chief executive Mark Reddemann left Energy Northwest March 30 to become chief executive of Nawah Energy Co., based in the United Arab Emirates. He is leading work there on four new nuclear power reactors.
Reddemann announced in June that he planned to retire in a year, but decided to leave three months early when the Middle East opportunity came up.
A search was launched last summer to find a replacement.
Sawatzke also had announced plans to retire in fall 2018, before accepting the CEO position.
"I am humbled and honored with this new opportunity," he said Thursday. "I'm very enthusiastic about the bright future facing us as a 100 percent clean generator of environmentally safe and affordable electricity."
Columbia Generating Station provides enough electricity to power about 1 million homes.
Reddemann hired Swatzke shortly after he took over leadership of Energy Northwest in 2010.
Sawatzke previously was director of site operations at the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant in Minnesota with Xcel Energy.
He worked for Xcel and related organizations for almost 29 years, including at the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant in Minnesota.
He holds a bachelor of science and applied physics form Winona State University and is a graduate of the Harvard Advanced Management Program.
He also held a reactor operator and senior reactor operator license at the Monticello plant.
His volunteer activities include serving on the boards of the Northwest Public Power Association and the United Way of Benton & Franklin counties, including United Way's Community Solutions Board.
He also is on the Columbia Basin College Nuclear Technology advisory board.
The executive board picked Grover Hettel, vice president for nuclear operations, to replace Sawatzke as chief nuclear officer.
Bob Schuetz, the nuclear plant general manager, has been promoted to Hettel's former position.
In another organizational change, the agency's hydro, wind and solar operations, as well as new development and energy business services, have been moved by the executive board to the leadership of Brent Ridge, who continues as vice president for corporate services.
This story was originally published April 26, 2018 10:18 AM.