As 2025 comes to a close, we want to take the opportunity to highlight a few of the biggest headlines of the year! With a new administration in the White House, the year began with a flurry of nominations and confirmations extending into the fall. We saw the passage of multiple pieces of appropriation and authorization legislation, four new executive orders centered on nuclear
energy, the nation's longest government shutdown, and more. ECA also released our most recent report, From the Atomic Age to New Nuclear which provides a landscape of the nuclear projects underway in the United States. Read below a
selection of some of the biggest headlines this year! ECA RELEASES REPORT - FROM THE ATOMIC AGE TO NEW NUCLEAR
Communities across the country that were once home to government nuclear sites and/or former commercial energy plants are ready to help the United States today unleash the next wave of nuclear technologies, according to a report from the Energy Communities Alliance (ECA). In its paper, From the Atomic Age to New Nuclear, ECA captures a snapshot of the nuclear projects underway in the United States and lays out the attributes that make energy communities optimal for this new era of American nuclear leadership. Read the full report here. SECRETARY NOMINEE WRIGHT CONFIRMED BY SENATE February 5 - The Senate confirmed Chris Wright as the next Secretary of Energy in a bipartisan (59-38) vote late yesterday evening (February 3). Having a confirmed Secretary in the role will facilitate decision-making at DOE to move forward with
programs supported by ECA communities. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SIGNS 4 EXECUTIVE ORDERS TO EXPAND NUCLEAR ENERGY PRODUCTION May 23 - President Donald Trump signed a series of four (4) long-awaited executive orders aiming to promote and accelerate nuclear energy development earlier today (Friday, May 23); "The executive orders aim to reform nuclear energy research at the Department of Energy, clear a path to allow the Energy Department to build nuclear reactors on federally-owned land, overhaul the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission and expand uranium mining and enrichment in the U.S", a senior administration official told reporters ahead of the signing. communities. WORLD BANK LIFTS BAN ON NUCLEAR FUNDING IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES June 12 - The World Bank lifted its long-standing ban on financing nuclear energy projects in developing countries in a move aimed at addressing growing electricity demands, as reported by Reuters. This is a significant change from the institution’s 2013 decision to halt nuclear project funding. The bank, known for providing low-interest loans for infrastructure development, is now aligning its energy strategy to support the anticipated doubling of electricity demand in developing nations by 2035. PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNS OFF ON THE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT July 7 - Last week (July 4), the Senate and House both passed H.R.1 – Big Beautiful Bill Act,
which was signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4. The Act will allocate a considerable amount of funding to initiatives for nuclear, in addition to modifying energy credits related to nuclear energy, and other measures that impact nuclear. $1.5 BILLION URANIUM ENRICHMENT FACILITY TO BE BUILT IN PADUCAH, KENTUCKY August 5 - The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and nuclear startup General Matter announced a project to reuse a 100-acre parcel of federal land at
the former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant for a new $1.5 billion private-sector domestic uranium enrichment facility in Paducah, KY, Politico reported this morning (August 5). The new plant could be brought online as early as 2030, and would create 140 jobs and bring in over $1 billion in local investment. SENATE CONFIRMS NEW DOE LEADERSHIP September 22 - The Senate approved 48 nominations last week (September 18) including the new leadership for National Nuclear Security Administration, the Office of
Science and the Office Nuclear Energy. CR EXPIRES TODAY, HOW WOULD A GOVERNMENT
SHUTDOWN IMPACT DOE PROGRAMS? September 30 - Congress is
still at an impasse over passage of a continuing resolution (CR) extending funding until November 21. After a highly anticipated meeting between President Trump and congressional leaders was unable to find consensus,
the likelihood of a government shutdown greatly increased. The CR deadline approaches at midnight tonight, and the White House is warning agencies of the potential for large scale reductions in force if the CR fails to pass. HANFORD WTP (THE HANFORD VIT
PLANT) OFFICIALLY OPEN October 15 - After decades of
planning, designing and redesigning, and construction, the world’s largest radioactive-waste treatment plant (“WTP”) for the U.S. Department of Energy which will process and stabilize much of the 56 million gallons of radioactive and chemical waste currently stored in underground tanks at the Hanford Site is OPEN and operating! TIM WALSH SWORN IN AS EM-1 October 29 - On Thursday, October 23, Timothy J. Walsh was sworn in as Assistant Secretary (EM-1)for the Office of Environmental Management at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE-EM). This is the first time in over 6
years since we have had a Senate confirmed Assistant Secretary in the position. ENERGY
DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES ORGANIZATIONAL REALIGNMENT November
20 - In the never-ending changes to the Department’s organization, DOE announced a new re-organization moving the “clean energy” offices to the annals of history of DOE and creating new offices focused on quantum computing, artificial intelligence, critical minerals and fusion energy while retaining EM, NE, LM, Office of Science and others. ENERGY AND WATER MOVES FORWARD IN THE SENATE November 26 - Yesterday, Senate appropriators released text of the Energy and Water Development bill. The House released its bill back in July (H. Rept. 119-213). The House and Senate have significant differences. NDAA SIGNED INTO LAW December 23 - Late last week (December 18), the President signed into law, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This bill is the result of months of negotiations between the House and Senate Armed Services committees, congressional leaders, and the White House. The NDAA includes $34.2 billion in authorizations for Atomic Energy Defense Activities which include authorizations for National Nuclear
Security Administration (NNSA), EM, and other DOE related defense activities. A detailed breakdown of the conference authorizations compared to the Senate authorizations and original budget requests are listed below (in thousands), and available to view
here.
JOIN ECA FOR OUR NEXT WEBINAR "CO-LOCATION OPTIONS WITH NUCLEAR STORAGE"
The next installment of ECA's Winter Webinar Series continues January 8 at 2:00pm ET with "Co-location Options with Nuclear Storage". As data centers and advanced fuel cycle facilities seek reliable, carbon-free power, new opportunities are emerging to co-locate these energy-intensive operations with nuclear generation and spent fuel storage sites. Such integration could strengthen grid resilience, reduce transmission losses, align high-demand digital infrastructure with established nuclear security and safety protocols and diversify economic opportunities for host communities and regions. Yet it also raises
complex questions about regulatory frameworks, community acceptance, and long-term stewardship of nuclear materials. This webinar will bring together experts from the energy, technology, and policy sectors to explore how thoughtful colocation strategies can balance innovation, safety, and public trust in the next generation of nuclear infrastructure. Speakers will include: Randy Hemann - City Manager, City of Oak Ridge David Pointer - Director, Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Division, ORNL Michele Sampson - Director, Division of New and Renewed Licenses, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, NRC Dr. Jenifer Shafer - Associate Director for Technology and Program Director, ARPA-E
Co-location Options with Nuclear Storage - ECA Winter Webinar Series Virtual | January 8, 2026 Learn More Here Siting Options for High Level Waste and Used Nuclear Fuel - ECA Winter Webinar Series Virtual | February 12, 2026 Learn More Here Spent Fuel Storage and Advanced Fuel Cycle Facilities: Co-location for Safety and Sustainability - ECA Winter
Webinar Series Virtual | March 5, 2026 Learn More Here ECA New Nuclear Forum 2026 Augusta, GA | April 21 - 23 Learn More Here National Cleanup Workshop 2026 Arlington, VA | September 14-16 Learn More Here
CATCH UP ON PAST WEBINARS Click the button below to visit ECA's YouTube Channel to rewatch past webinars, and find the recordings from our most recent webinars below!
ECA Winter Series: Advancing New Nuclear with Datacenter Development December 8, 2025 As artificial intelligence and cloud computing drive exponential growth in electricity demand, data center developers are turning to nuclear energy for reliable, carbon-free power needed to operate continuously. This session explores the
concerns local officials must address when co-locating data centers with existing or new nuclear generation. Speakers will discuss regulatory considerations, what makes an “ideal” site, community engagement, and partnership models that align digital infrastructure expansion with public safety and sustainability goals. Moderator: AJ Ridge - Director of Programs, ECA Iain Macdonald - Principal and Future Energy Systems Development Lead, HKS Ilissa Miller - Editor-in-Chief, DataCenter Post David Reeploeg - Executive Director, Hanford Communities Peter Rodrik - Associate Administrator for Partnership and Acquisition Services, NNSA Aditi Verma - Assistant Professor, University of Michigan View the full webinar recording here! ECA Winter Series: Creating Emergency Response Planning for Nuclear Storage Projects November 6, 2025 Advanced nuclear projects are moving toward construction, and local governments play
a frontline role in ensuring that emergency preparedness and management systems keep pace with development. City and county officials oversee first responders, coordinate public safety communications, and maintain the trust of residents who live and work near project sites. This webinar will highlight how mayors, emergency managers, and developers collaborate to build readiness from day one—through joint planning, drills, and transparent communication. Participants will gain insight into best
practices for integrating project-specific safety requirements into local emergency operations and for sustaining preparedness over the full lifecycle of a nuclear facility. Speakers include: Moderator: Laura Hermann - Deputy Executive Director, Energy Communities Alliance Chief Mike Cochran - Police Chief, City of Craig, Colorado Lea Perlas - Fusion Program Director, Virginia Department of Health Randall Ryti - Councilor, Los Alamos County, New Mexico Brian
Scroggins - Administrator of the Division of Planning, Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects View the full webinar recording here! ECA Summer Series: Investing in Innovation: Financing Advanced Nuclear Projects September 12, 2025 Wall
Street has arrived to Main Street. Understanding financing pathways is no longer optional—it’s a prerequisite for informed local leadership and successful project development. Join ECA in its upcoming webinar featuring panelists shaping financing solutions for new generation of nuclear projects. Learn about the new business models emerging and how the financing will occur. Nuclear projects will only move forward if they are financeable. While government funding has played a vital role, the new
generation of projects are looking at how to structure the “capital stack” and use a mix of private financing (debt and equity), tax credits, and DOE loan program. In addition, the announced Power Purchase Agreements between utilities and large off-taker such as Google, Meta and Amazon are providing the credit needed to attract financing – once the projects are ready for market. Join a conversation that will bring together government and the private sector to discuss these items and make
recommendations on how these projects can move forward to facilitate these exciting business opportunities. This means real opportunities to attract capital, create jobs, and leverage nuclear projects for broader economic development. Speakers include experts shaping the future of nuclear finance: Facilitator: Seth Kirshenberg -
Executive Director | Energy Communities Alliance and Partner, Kutak Rock LLP Andy Roehr - Managing Director | Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP Anthony Huston - Managing Partner | Quadrant Nuclear Industries Chris Lohse - Innovation
and Technology Manager | Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear View the full webinar recording here!
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