Spencer Abraham, former U.S. secretary of energy, has been named non-executive chairman of the board of French-based energy industry service provider AREVA. Bill Fox has been named vice president of construction and management for new plant development, responsible for developing and implementing plans to build AREVA’s U.S. Evolutionary Power Reactor at multiple sites in the United States as early as 2009. 

Joseph (Buzz) Miller has been named senior vice president of nuclear development for Southern Nuclear Operating Company, a newly created position. He will be responsible for overseeing development of Southern Company’s nuclear generation expansion efforts.

PG&E Corporation has named Richard Rollo vice president of strategic development and business integration responsible for evaluating growth opportunities including acquisitions and mergers within the regulated utility sector.

NRG Energy has named Curtis Morgan executive vice president and regional president of the company’s northeast region, replacing Scott Davido who left NRG to become CFO of Calpine.

James Miller has been named to succeed William Hecht as chairman and CEO of PPL Corporation when Hecht retires at the end of this year. Miller has been president and COO.

TXU has named Mike Childers to the newly-created position of CEO of generation development, responsible for coordinating generation opportunities including the previously announced Oak Grove and Sandow 5 projects.

IDACORP Executive Vice President LaMont Keen will succeed retiring Jan Packwood as president and CEO effective July 1.

Dr. Nelson Koopman has been named president and COO of Engineering Systems Inc, succeeding Dr. Anthony Valentino who becomes president emeritus. Dr. Dan Wojnowski has been named director of mechanical and electrical engineering, retaining duties as director of civil engineering and corporate vice-president.

David Youlen, vice president of New York operations for Brookfield Power, has been installed as president of the National Hydropower Association.

Nuclear industry service provider Enercon has named Bob Evans vice president of new plant services and Al Schneider manager of projects.

Dan Yarbrough has been named quality assurance/safety coordinator for InsulTech of Santa Ana, California, which supplies thermal and acoustical insulation.

In a move that consolidates all operations under one executive, Otto Kopietzki has been named president of Kohler Power Systems. Kopietzki has previously served as president of European, Middle Eastern, African and Asia Pacific operations.