TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS & WHAT TO KNOW THIS WEEK

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:

Moderator: Jennifer Chandler - Council Member, Village of Piketon

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

Please contact AJ Ridge, ECA Director of Programs, with any questions at ajr@energyca.org.

Click here for more information about upcoming events!

CONGRESS RELEASES ENERGY & WATER IN MINI-BUS

Today, Congressional appropriators released a new compromise minibus of three appropriation bills including the Energy and Water Development Bill ahead of the approaching January 30 deadline to avoid another government shutdown. A bill summary from the Senate Committee on Appropriations is available here. 

In this new bill, NNSA and NE are fully funded, and EM funding is increased from the House version. House appropriators are aiming to bring the bill to the House floor on Thursday. 

Below is a snapshot of some of the funding levels provided in this bill: 

Atomic Energy Defense Activities & Environmental Cleanup: $33.95 billion

Defense Environmental Cleanup - $7.375 billion

Other Defense Activities - $1.17 billion

Nuclear National Security

Weapons Activities: $20.378 billion

SLCM-N: $186 million

Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility: $1.13 billion

Inertial Confinement Fusion Program: $803 million 

Advanced Simulation and Computing at NNSA: $865.99 million

Nuclear Nonproliferation: $2.367 billion

Naval Reactors: $2.13 billion 

Spent Fuel Handling Facility Project: $424 million

Nuclear Regulatory Commission: $152.1 million

Nuclear Energy: $1.785 billion

Advanced Reactor Demonstration and Small Modular Reactors: $3.1 billion

Office of Science: $8.4 billion

Non-Defense Environmental Cleanup: $322 million

Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund: $865 million

Nuclear Waste Disposal: $12.04 million

As House appropriators aim to bring the bill to the House floor on Thursday, stay tuned for a more in-depth analysis from ECA on this bill, and visit our Federal Budget Tracker to learn more!

Click here to read the full bill. 

HOUSE ENERGY SUBCOMMITTEE TO HOLD HEARING TITLED AMERICAN ENERGY DOMINANCE: DAWN OF THE NEW NUCLEAR ERA

Subcommittee on Energy hearing to discuss the licensing, deployment, and implementation of recently enacted federal laws and administration policies in nuclear energy on Wednesday, January 7 at 10:15am EST. 

ECA NEW NUCLEAR FORUM TO BE HOSTED IN AUGUSTA, GA FROM APRIL 21-23, 2026

Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) is pleased to host the fifth annual ECA Forum in Augusta, GA from April 21 - April 23, 2026. The meeting is part of ECA’s ongoing New Nuclear Initiative to define the role of local governments in supporting the development of the new nuclear technologies.

April 21 | Registration Opens & Nuclear 101

April 22 | Full Day General Session

April 23 | Half-Day General Session

The ECA Forum is the only meeting designed to bring together DOE, federal, state, local and tribal governments and policymakers with developers, utilities, regulators, industry, and academia to identify opportunities, challenges and to build the partnerships necessary to support nuclear development. Stay tuned for further details on registration, agenda, and more!

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
The ECA Forum is open to communities, State, Tribal and local policymakers, industry, utilities, developers, experts, financiers, state legislators, community groups, and economic development organizations working to build capacity and support for new nuclear development in the U.S.

AGENDA:
Agenda coming soon!

ECA is working with private and community partners to develop an agenda that takes a comprehensive look at what new nuclear projects require - from the front-end to the back-end of the fuel cycle to aligning support at local, state and federal levels. The Forum will explore emerging options for enabling legislation, public-private partnerships and regulatory oversight.

WHAT YOU'VE MISSED:

Duke Energy submits an ESP application to the NRC
Following up on an October announcement on plans to invest more heavily in nuclear power, Duke Energy closed out 2025 by submitting an early site permit application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. This ESP application is for a site near the Belews Creek Steam Station, a coal and natural gas plant in Stokes County, N.C., where Duke has been pursuing a new nuclear project for two years.

Read the full story

Idaho lab produces first fuel for fast molten salt reactor, paving way for maritime deployment

Scientists at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) have achieved a historic breakthrough in nuclear energy by launching full-scale production of enriched fuel salt for the Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment (MCRE)—the world’s first test of a molten chloride salt fast reactor.

Read the full story

UPCOMING EVENTS:

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

 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!