Episode 26: John Umphress
In Episode 26, Tonya Kleuskens talks with John Umphress about the 89th Texas Legislature passing HB14, which allows for $350 million to be used to increase nuclear power in Texas. About $120 million of this funding is earmarked for both Texas Tech University and Abilene Christian University (for research on a molten salt reactor). The bill also establishes the Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office to oversee this support.
John Umphress is a life-long resident of Texas with more than four decades of experience in public policy, mostly in the fields of water and energy resources. Prior to his retirement, John spent 14 years at Austin Energy, where he developed the residential energy code for the city of Austin. His goal for the code was to encourage the design and construction of net-zero energy homes. He is currently an apiarist, or beekeeper, running 240 colonies and building a net-zero home in Burnet County.
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Learn more about HB14, including written text and sponsors.
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