Energy Secretary says he’s not taking over BPA
By Natural Resource News Note:
Despite hiring scandals at Bonneville Power, the U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz stated that he is not seeking to take control of the troubled administration despite taking over some of their functions.
The Oregonian reports.
The DOE has assumed control of Bonneville’s hiring and directed its head lawyer to report to DOE headquarters in the wake of investigations that found BPA had manipulated hiring practices, discriminated against veterans, and retaliated against whistleblowers who brought the problems to light. Customer groups and others in the region worry that DOE will usurp some of BPA’s decision making autonomy and reduce its responsiveness to regional concerns..
.“As Deputy Secretary Poneman and I have consistently and repeatedly made clear, DOE headquarters has no intention to “take over” or run BP A on a day-to-day basis.” Moniz wrote. “Our actions – in partnership with BPA leadership – are aimed at fixing serious, systemic hiring problems at BPA and potential retaliatory actions against whistleblowers, and ensuring that BPA complies with the law.
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