Xcel Energy named Chris Church as the company?s new chief nuclear officer, effective December 15, 2023. Church succeeds Pete Gardner, who is retiring at the end of the year after serving in the role since 2020. Church has served as vice president of nuclear operations since 2020 and was site vice president at the Monticello plant for two years before that.

Prior to joining Xcel Energy, he held several senior leadership roles in other nuclear fleets, including vice president of operations support for Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and site vice president of that company?s Watts Bar and Sequoyah nuclear power plants. He was previously a submarine officer in the United States Navy. Gardner is retiring after nearly 40 years in the nuclear industry, including 10 years at Xcel Energy, and he provided steady leadership of the company?s nuclear fleet during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Operational innovations during his tenure include a process for flexing down nuclear generation when low-cost wind resources are abundant and a forthcoming hydrogen demonstration project at Prairie Island. Xcel Energy?s nuclear fleet continues to be recognized for sustained exemplary performance by the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations while achieving a 35% reduction in operational costs over the past 10 years.