Reuters: U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said on Wednesday the department will establish a “blue ribbon” panel to develop a comprehensive plan this year to handle the disposal of radioactive wastes from nuclear power plants. “I believe nuclear power is an essential part of our energy mix,” Chu said at a hearing before the Senate Budget Committee. “It provides the clean base load generation of electricity.” The panel Chu plans to form would be responsible for creating a long-term U.S. …