JOIN ECA NEXT WEEK FOR REVIVING NUCLEAR REPROCESSING: THE REALITY & OPPORTUNITIES
Join ECA on June 25, 2025 from 2:00pm to 3:30pm for a can't-miss session in the ECA Summer Webinar Series: Reviving Nuclear
Reprocessing: The Reality and Opportunities. Recent executive orders signed by President Trump have directed the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy to use their authorities to advance privately funded recycling, reprocessing, and reactor fuel fabrication technologies. But how will costs, logistics, and timing impact this ambitious move to close the fuel cycle? Hear firsthand from a panel
of experts that ECA has gathered to discuss the status and history of nuclear recycling and reprocessing in the U.S., and the implications it has on the national nuclear waste strategy and on the industry as a whole. Speakers will include: - Facilitator: Laura Hermann – Deputy Executive Director, Energy Communities Alliance
- Ross Matzkin-Bridger - Senior Director of Nuclear Materials Security, Nuclear Threat Initiative
- Dr. Kemal
Pasamehmetoglu - Former Associate Laboratory Director, Nuclear Science and Technology Directorate, Idaho National Laboratory
- Nick Touran – Nuclear Advisor and Consultant, What is Nuclear
If you have any questions about the webinar or would like more information, please reach out to ajr@energyca.org. We hope to see you there!
DOE SECRETARY APPEARS BEFORE SENATE COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS DOE FY2026 BUDGET
On Wednesday, June 18, Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Christopher Wright appeared as a witness before the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources for a Full Committee hearing assessing DOE’s FY2026 Budget as laid out in the President’s Budget Request. During the hearing, Wright affirmed that nuclear will be the largest growing energy source sometime in the future. He stated that "America must play a leading role in the
commercialization of reliable, safe and secure nuclear energy. And we are taking steps to accelerate innovation in this sector. DOE is working to advance the rapid deployment of next generation nuclear technology, including small modular reactors.” Wright fielded multiple questions relating to DOE’s efforts to support nuclear development: Chairman of the Committee, Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) asked Wright to detail DOE’s authority to authorize nuclear projects, such as reactors and fuel cycle facilities, and to describe how DOE may use that authority to speed up the development and the deployment of new nuclear energy. He also inquired into what legislative changes Congress should consider
to help expand that authority. Wright announced the DOE will be sending out a solicitation to get three (3) new small modular reactors (SMR) producing power by July 4 of 2026 at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). He noted that some of the
reactors in question “have been talked about for 15 years, some of them can be built quickly and ready to go”. Wright continued that DOE is leveraging its authority by “putting out requests for people to build data centers or energy production on government lands”, referring to DOE’s AI Infrastructure & Energy Initiative. (For more information, click here to view a Webinar ECA hosted with DOE leadership discussing the Initiative). He commented that strict regulations have made it difficult to build cost competitive nuclear plants, stating that “China builds a nuclear plant for a third the cost we do and a fourth the time”. He continued “We want to protect our people, we want safety, we want to do all the right things. But we got to be smarter about how we do that, or nuclear will forever be on the edge…” Senator John Barrasso (WY) inquired into what DOE is doing to strengthen the domestic nuclear fuel supply and empower the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. Wright reiterated the solicitation announcement, adding that INL is a great resource to accelerate the deployment of novel reactor designs by providing a space to test and prove reactor capabilities. Regarding fuel, he commented on how DOE is working with companies to develop domestic fuel enrichment of uranium in the United States, reiterating his approach to leverage private capital to drive forward nuclear development and innovation. A testament to his belief, Wright stated during the hearing; “We need to make it happen. (Nuclear is) just a great energy source that can help the world.”
Chairman Lee thanked Wright for appearing before the committee and lending them his time and insight. To learn more about DOE's budget, visit our website. ECA will continue to provide updated on the DOE FY2026 budget as they develop. To
make sure you don’t miss an update, subscribe to the ECA Update!
Earlier this summer, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) completed a report on nuclear waste titled, "An Integrated Disposal Plan Could Help DOE Complete Its Cleanup Mission and Save Billions". ECA is hosting an informational webinar to learn more about the recommendations to develop DOE complex-wide analyses to assess the progress of its cleanup mission. These recommendations include; optimization models to identify optimal disposal pathways; a call to develop a complex-wide disposal plan; and the creation of a
forum for EM, cleanup sites, and disposal facility regulators to address regulatory constraints to optimal disposal approaches. GAO analyzed EM waste data, interviewed or requested information from all 15 EM sites, visited commercial nuclear waste disposal facilities, and developed a hypothetical model for optimizing transuranic waste disposal using EM data. Join ECA on July 24 at 2pm ET to learn more about the report. Speakers will include: - Facilitator: Seth Kirshenberg – Executive Director, Energy Communities Alliance
- Amanda Kolling, Assistant Director - Natural Resources and Environment, GAO
- Nathan Anderson, Director - Natural Resources and Environment, GAO
JOIN ETEC IN THE OAK RIDGE CORRIDOR FOR THE NUCLEAR OPPORTUNITIES WORKSHOP
July 22 - 23, 2025 | Knoxville Convention Center
WHAT IS NOW? - NOW is ETEC's Nuclear Opportunities Workshop, Tennessee’s premier nuclear industry conference focused on all things nuclear: fission, fusion, isotopes, environmental management, AI in nuclear, workforce and more. Join ETEC and a variety of experts and enthusiasts in
the Oak Ridge Corridor for this growing, engaging, and informative conference.
For more information, including agenda, supporter opportunities, and travel and lodging information, click here.
ROGER JARRELL, ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR EM, TO SPEAK AT THE NATIONAL CLEANUP WORKSHOP
September 23 - 25, 2025 | Crystal Gateway
Marriott | Arlington, VA
Join us for the 11th annual National Cleanup Workshop (NCW), to be held September 24-25, 2025 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott - Arlington, VA. Hear from Roger Jarrell, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) and Acting Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM), and a growing list of federal representatives, industry officials and state and local leaders. Hosted by ECA with the cooperation of the Energy Facility Contractors
Group and DOE-EM; this is one of the largest events in the country dealing with the issues tackled by the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management (EM). TAKE A FIRST LOOK AT WHO'S SPEAKING!
Roger Jarrell | Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary, DOE-EM
Brent Gerry | Mayor, City of
West Richland, WA; Chair, ECA
Rebecca Casper | Mayor, City of Idaho Falls, ID; Vice-Chair, ECA
David "DJ" Johnson | Vice President, Honeywell Federal Solutions; EFCOG Board Chair
Heatherly Dukes | President, Technical Service Group, BWX Technologies, Inc.
Carol Johnson | President and Program Manager, Hanford Tank Waste Operations & Closure (H2C)
Jeff Kendall | President,
AtkinsRéalis US Nuclear
Mark Whitney | President, Energy and Environment, Amentum
... and more!
Make sure to register before July 1, 2025, to receive the early bird discount rate! The cost of registration will increase after July 1.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Wednesday, September 24 8:00am National Cleanup Workshop 5:30pm Evening Reception for all NCW Attendees Thursday, September 25
8:00am National Cleanup Workshop SPONSORSHIP
NCW sponsorships offer an excellent opportunity to showcase your company, maximize networking opportunities with attendees, and host
an exhibit booth during the forum. Click here to learn more!
The National Cleanup Workshop is hosted by the Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) with the cooperation of the Energy Facility Contractors Group (EFCOG) and the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM)*.
WHAT YOU'VE MISSED: Energy Department Announces New Pathway to Test Advanced Reactors WASHINGTON— The U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the start of a new pilot program to expedite the testing of advanced nuclear reactor designs under DOE authority outside of the national laboratories. In accordance with President Trump’s Executive Order, Reforming Nuclear Reactor Testing at the Department of Energy, DOE issued a Request for Application (RFA) and is seeking qualified U.S. reactor companies interested in constructing and operating their test reactors outside of the national laboratories using the DOE authorization process. Today’s action represents an important step toward streamlining nuclear reactor testing and ensuring at
least three reactors achieve criticality by July 4, 2026. Read the full story NRC speeds timeline for
Dow/X-energy reactor permit review The 18-month timeline halves NRC’s “generic schedule” for a construction permit
application. But Dow is unlikely to greenlight the Texas project before 2028, a spokesperson said. Read the full story Supreme Court rules against Texas in interim storage case The Supreme Court voted 6–3 against Texas and a group of landowners today in a case
involving the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s licensing of a consolidated interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel, reversing a decision by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to grant the state and landowners Fasken Land and Minerals (Fasken) standing to challenge the license. Read the full story
GoneFission Nuclear Report - Oak Ridge Nuclear Center
of Excellence May 13, 2025 | S5 E2 Dr. Stephen Nagy discusses Japan's strategic positioning in a complex geopolitical landscape, particularly in relation to the U.S.-China rivalry. He explores Japan's economic ties with China, the challenges posed by regional security
threats, and the evolving strategies Japan is employing to navigate these issues. The conversation delves into Japan's historical pacifism, the potential for nuclear deterrence discussions, and the importance of trade agreements and technological cooperation in ensuring regional stability. https://gonefissionpodcast.com/ NucleCast - James Ragland: Defense Nuclear Weapons School (DNWS) June 17, 2025 | S03 E223 James Ragland from the Defense Nuclear Weapons School (DNWS) shares the school's history, mission, and the various courses it offers. He talks about the evolution of the school's focus from Cold War-era nuclear weapons to contemporary threats, the types of students who attend, and the
unique courses available, including specialized training for first responders. Ragland also highlights the importance of the Nuclear Weapons Instructional Museum and the role of DNWS in enhancing nuclear education within the military and government. https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/
Nuclear Opportunities Workshop Knoxville, TN | July 22 - 23 Learn More Here National Cleanup Workshop 2025 Arlington, VA |
September 23 - 25 Learn More Here
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