Constellation Energy Nuclear Group, LLCSM (CENG), announced today that Sam Belcher, currently the Vice President at its Nine Mile Point facility in Scriba, N.Y., has been named Senior Vice President, Operations for the fleet based in Baltimore, MD. Current Plant General Manager Tom Lynch is Acting Vice President. Mark Flaherty, Manager, Fleet Engineering, is the new Acting Plant General Manager.

Sam Belcher has been named Senior Vice President, Operations for Constellation Energy Nuclear Group ...

Sam Belcher has been named Senior Vice President, Operations for Constellation Energy Nuclear Group (Photo: Business Wire)

Belcher reports to Maria Korsnick, CENG's Chief Nuclear Officer (CNO). In this new role, Belcher will be responsible for the safe, reliable and economic operations of the CENG Fleet. As part of his new responsibilities, the three site Vice Presidents at Nine Mile Point, R.E. Ginna and Calvert Cliffs will report to him.

"I am excited about Sam taking on this new role within the CENG leadership," Korsnick said. "Sam brings 20 years of nuclear power experience and will add a lot of value as we work to become a best-in-class fleet. He has done an excellent job at Nine Mile Point leading the team to many accomplishments. Sam will help drive us to excellence because he has seen excellence in action. Sam understands the issues and opportunities of our fleet, and believes rightly so that outstanding people are the key to our success. This move provides me the opportunity to focus more of my time and attention on broader company and industry opportunities, such as learning from the events in Japan, with Sam's focus being on the day-to-day safe operation of the fleet."

Belcher added, "I am extremely pleased to take on this new assignment for the fleet. While I am excited about the challenge, it was a difficult decision to leave behind people at Nine Mile and the great community. Our team has done an incredible job under trying circumstances and I am extremely impressed with the caliber of people that we employ. Any success that I have had is the direct result of their actions. One positive aspect of my new job in Baltimore is that I get to continue playing a part in the site's and community's success."

Belcher joined the company in October 2007 as the Plant General Manager at Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station. Belcher brings more than 20 years of experience in the nuclear industry having begun his career as an engineer, progressing to a number of leadership roles. Prior to joining CENG, Belcher was most recently the Director, Fleet Operations for First Energy Nuclear Operating Company (FENOC) in Akron, Ohio. He previously served as Operations Manager at Energy Northwest's Columbia Generating Station. In this role, he led initiatives, which resulted in recognized improvements.

The majority of Belcher's career was spent with Entergy Nuclear. He began his career as a quality engineer for Entergy progressing through the engineering ranks to senior engineer. He subsequently became a licensed senior reactor operator with on shift experience at the River Bend Station, ultimately progressing to Operations Manager. A native of Atkins, Arkansas, Sam holds a B.S. in Engineering from Arkansas Tech University and is a registered professional engineer in Arkansas. Belcher and his family are relocating to Maryland.

CENG's five nuclear reactors at three power stations continue to set high standards in safety efficiency and reliability in the generation of electricity. CENG had an average capability factor of 94.2 percent in 2010, the seventh consecutive year its capability factor exceeded 93 percent. Capability factor measures how much electricity is produced, compared with the amount of electricity a unit is capable of producing, within a given period of time.

About Constellation Energy Nuclear Group (CENG)

CENG (a joint venture of Constellation Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE: CEG) and EDF Group, SA) based in Baltimore, Maryland, is a leading producer of safe and reliable nuclear power. The company owns and operates five nuclear reactors at three sites in New York and Maryland. CENG's core values are nuclear and personal safety. Nuclear energy accounts for more than 20 percent of U.S. produced electricity, powering one in five homes and businesses across the country. It produces no greenhouse gases and is America's largest source of carbon-free, reliable electricity.

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Constellation Energy Nuclear Group, LLC (CENG)
Mark Sullivan (Baltimore)
410-470-2364 (CENG Media Line)
or
Jill Lyon (Nine Mile Point)
315-349-5221