TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS & WHAT TO KNOW THIS WEEK
- House passes conference minibus, including the Energy and Water
Development Bill ahead of the January 30th deadline to avoid a government shutdown. Senate likely to bring the bill to the floor for a vote this week.
- Oklo and Meta announce an agreement in support of a 1.2 GW nuclear energy development in Southern Ohio - read more below.
- Register today for ECA's next webinar, "Siting Options for High Level Waste and Used Nuclear Fuel" on February 12 at 2:00pm EST.
- House Energy Subcommittee
held hearing last week titled American Energy Dominance: Dawn of the New Nuclear Era - watch the hearing here.
- ECA New Nuclear Forum
- 📅 Date: April 21-24
📍 Location: Augusta, GA 🔗 Register Here!
- Join us for insights, industry networking, and expert speakers from the people advancing new nuclear reactors across the United States. Whether you’re looking to begin learning about nuclear energy or
to deploy advanced reactors in your region, this is the place to be. Don’t miss out—secure your spot today!
- Visit ECA on LinkedIn for regular updates.
ENERGY & WATER APPROPRIATIONS INCREASING THE BUDGET FOR NE, EM, NNSA, SCIENCE MOVING FORWARDOn Thursday, the House passed HR6938 which includes Energy and Water Appropriations for DOE, whose total budget is $49.124 billion. After the cuts that were feared from the original House numbers there are increases in support for many of the programs in ECA communities from the House and Senate (EM, NE, NNSA, Science, etc). The Senate is expected to take up the Bill this week. The CR, which went into effect in November, expires January 30th. $1.785 billion in total resources for Nuclear Energy, which is $100 million above the FY25 enacted level. - Continues funding for the Advanced Nuclear Fuel Availability program, to advance production of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU).
- Repurposes previously appropriated funds to accelerate advanced reactor and small modular reactor demonstration projects.
$8.56 billion for the Department’s environmental management and cleanup activities, including the continued remediation of sites contaminated by decades of Cold War-era nuclear weapons production. $25.404 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which is responsible for the nuclear stockpile and the naval nuclear fleet. This
is $1.269 billion above the FY25 enacted level. - $20.38 billion for Weapons Activities.
- $2.13 billion for Naval Reactors to include Columbia-class submarine reactor development and the Spent Fuel Handling Facility project.
- $2.37 billion for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation.
- Fully funds all major alterations, modifications of existing nuclear weapons, and acquisition of new warhead capabilities.
- Provides additional funding for plutonium pit production,
the Uranium Processing Facility, the Lithium Processing Facility, and the nuclear Sea-launched Cruise Missile (SLCM-N) warhead program.
$8.4 billion in total resources for the Office of Science, which supports scientific research at DOE National Labs. This is $160 million above the FY25 enacted level. - Maintains support for high-performance computing, quantum
computing, and artificial intelligence efforts.
- Advances fusion energy sciences to bring fusion to the electric grid.
- Increases operations for experimental user facilities.
- Enhances the National Laboratories, the pipeline of foundational research, and America’s role as the global leader of scientific discovery.
$190 million for Cybersecurity, Energy Security,
and Emergency Response to ensure the electric grid is resilient in the face of cyberattacks, physical attacks, and other disruptions. ECA will continue to monitor the progress as this bill makes its way through Congress, and will provide updates as we have them. Check out our Federal Budget Tracker for more information!
OKLO, META ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT IN SUPPORT OF 1.2 GW NUCLEAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENTLast Friday, Oklo, announced an agreement with Meta Platforms, Inc. that advances Oklo’s plans to develop a 1.2 GW power campus in Pike County, Ohio, to support Meta’s data centers in the region.
The agreement provides a mechanism for Meta to prepay for power and provide funding to advance project certainty for Oklo’s Aurora powerhouse deployment. Oklo will use the funds to secure nuclear fuel and advance Phase 1 of the project—supporting the development of clean, reliable power in Pike County that can scale up to 1.2 GW. Meta’s commitment enables Oklo to pursue development in southern Ohio. Oklo seeks to develop
the project on 206 acres of land in Pike County owned by the company and formerly owned by the Department of Energy. The land purchase was facilitated in part by the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative (SODI), a nonprofit working to reuse the land for regional development. “Two years ago, Oklo shared its vision to build a new generation of advanced reactors in Ohio. Today, that vision is becoming a reality. We have
finalized the purchase of over 200 acres in Pike County and are excited to announce this agreement in support of a multi-year effort with Meta to deliver clean energy and create long-term, high-quality jobs in Ohio,” said Jacob DeWitte, Oklo’s co-founder and CEO. "Meta’s funding commitment in support of early procurement and development activity is a major step in moving advanced nuclear forward.” The agreement is expected
to lay the foundation for constructing multiple Oklo Aurora powerhouses, creating thousands of construction and long-term operations jobs, expanding Ohio’s clean energy workforce, and generating new local and state tax revenues through investment in energy infrastructure. Pre-construction and site characterization are slated to begin in 2026, with the first phase targeted to come online as early as 2030. The plans for the
scalable powerhouse facility are expected to expand incrementally to deliver up to the full target of 1.2 GW by 2034. Ohio’s location within the PJM interconnection—one of the nation’s largest grid systems—and its strong transmission network position it as a strategic hub for America’s clean energy growth as demand for artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure accelerates. “The project brings into focus the potential for the transformative impact the redevelopment of this site can have on our energy infrastructure and the reinvigoration of our community,” said Kevin Shoemaker, General Counsel at SODI. “We appreciate our strong partnership with Oklo and look forward to continuing to work with them to bring more jobs and economic opportunity to the region.” Read the full press release here.
REGULATORY ROUNDUPDepartment of Energy Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board, Oak Ridge DOE announces an in-person/virtual meeting of the Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB), Oak Ridge on February 11, 2027 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm EST. . To receive the virtual access information, please send an email to: orssab@orem.doe.gov at least two days prior to the meeting. Click here for more information. Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board, Oak Ridge DOE announces an in-person/virtual meeting of the Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB), Oak Ridge on February 11, 2027 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm EST.. To receive the virtual access information, please send an email to: orssab@orem.doe.gov at least two days prior to the meeting. Click here for more information. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Florida Power & Light Co.; St. Lucie Plant, Units 1 and 2; Draft Environmental Impact Statement The NRC is issuing for public comment ‘‘Generic Environmental Impact Statement for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Supplement 11, Second Renewal, Regarding Subsequent License Renewal for St. Lucie Plant, Units 1 and 2, Draft Report for Comment.’ Public comment will be open until February 23, and can
be submitted here. Click here for more information. Duke Energy Progress, LLC; H. B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Unit No. 2; Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement The NRC is issuing for public comment draft Supplement 13, Second Renewal to the Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) for License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, NUREG–1437, regarding the proposed subsequent renewal of Renewed Facility Operating License No. DRP–23 for an additional 20 years for H. B. Robinson Steam Electric Plant, Unit No. 2 (RNP). RNP is located in Darlington County, South Carolina,
approximately 5 miles west-northwest of Hartsville, South Carolina. Public comment will be open until February 23, and can be submitted here. Click here for more information. Duke Energy Corporation; Belews Creek; Early Site Permit Application The NRC is providing public notice of receipt and availability of an application submitted on December 30, 2025 for an early site permit (ESP) from Duke Energy Corporation for the Belews Creek site located in Stokes County, North Carolina. Click here for more information. Palisades Energy, LLC; Palisades Nuclear Plant; Exemption The NRC has issued an exemption in response to a request dated December 12, 2025, as supplemented by letters dated December 26, 2025, December 31, 2025, and January 5, 2026, from Palisades Energy, LLC. The exemption authorizes a one-time exemption for the Palisades Nuclear Plant to allow the use of the less restrictive work hour limitations described in the NRC regulations for a 60-day period starting on January 6, 2026. Click here for more information. The Sunset Rule The NRC is confirming the effective date of January 8, 2026, for the direct final rule that was published in the Federal Register on December 3, 2025, except for one provision that is being withdrawn. This direct final rule amended the NRC’s regulations to insert a conditional sunset date into certain regulations in response to Executive Order 14270, ‘‘Zero-Based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy.’’ The NRC is
withdrawing an amendment that would have established a conditional sunset date to the NRC’s provisions for aircraft impact assessment. Click here for more information.
JOIN ECA FOR OUR NEXT WEBINAR "SITING OPTIONS FOR HIGH LEVEL WASTE AND USED NUCLEAR FUEL"
The next installment of ECA's Winter Webinar Series continues February 12 at 2:00pm EST with "Siting Options for High Level Waste and Used Nuclear Fuel". Collaboration-based siting seeks to develop integrated nuclear waste solutions that balance technical,
regulatory, and social readiness. Siting today requires more than regulatory compliance—it demands trust, transparency, and shared problem-solving among local governments, state agencies, developers, and residents. This webinar will explore how collaboration-based siting can deliver on environmental management goals while accelerating project timelines and strengthening community confidence in long-term energy infrastructure decisions. Please contact AJ Ridge, ECA Program Director, with any questions at ajr@energyca.org.
WATCH HOUSE ENERGY SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING TITLED AMERICAN ENERGY DOMINANCE: DAWN OF THE NEW NUCLEAR ERA
Last Wednesday, the Subcommittee on Energy hearing held a hearing discussing the licensing, deployment, and implementation of recently enacted federal laws and administration policies in nuclear energy. Click here to read Subcommittee Chairman Latta's (OH-05) opening statement, and click the button below to watch the recorded hearing.
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.
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: Co-location Options with Nuclear Storage January 8,
2026 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
Randall 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 View the full webinar recording 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!
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