Energy Northwest CEO announces retirement

RICHLAND, Wash. – Energy Northwest's Chief Executive Officer, Brad Sawatzke, announced this week that he plans to retire from the agency at the end of June.

“I have worked in the nuclear industry for four decades, and the last 10 years have been the most rewarding of my career. It’s been an honor to be a part of the Energy Northwest team,” Sawatzke wrote in a message to employees Wednesday.

Sawatzke started his career at the nuclear energy-generating station near the Hanford site in December 2010 as vice president for Nuclear Generation and chief nuclear officer. Following the retirement of former CEO Mark Reddemann, the executive board appointed Sawatzke as the agency’s CEO in April 2018 to lead the organization’s more than 1,000 employees and oversee the operation of Columbia Generating Station and EN’s non-nuclear generating assets, which include wind, hydroelectric, solar and battery storage facilities.

The EN executive board will appoint a committee to start the search for Sawatzke’s successor.