TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS & WHAT TO KNOW THIS WEEK
- ECA released its newest paper today "Changes are Coming: Building Momentum for EM's Scope and Progress", which highlights the opportunity for DOE leadership to look at improvements and efficiencies to address long-standing needs in the EM program and take advantage of the
real opportunities to reuse DOE assets
- The Senate Confirmed New DOE Leadership Last week including:
- Brandon Williams, NNSA Administrator and Under Secretary for Nuclear Security
- Ted Garrish, Assistant Secretary of Energy (Nuclear Energy)
- Dario Gil, Under Secretary for Science, Department of Energy
- Oklo breaks ground on the first Aurora Powerhouse in Idaho Falls, ID today
- ECA's latest report "From the Atomic Age to New Nuclear"
highlights new nuclear projects across the country - see more below
- The Senate is still at an impasse over passage of a continuing resolution (CR) extending funding until November 21. With recess this week, There will be little time to pass the CR before the deadline of September 30 next week.
- The National Cleanup Workshop is less than a week away! Don't Miss out - register now!
- Visit ECA on LinkedIn for regular updates
CHANGES ARE COMING TO CLEANUP: HOW SHOULD EM CONTINUE TO BUILD MOMENTUM
The DOE Office of Environmental Management (EM) program is amid some of the largest challenges in many years, including a likely appropriations cut. This is an opportunity for DOE leadership and the EM program to look at improvements and efficiencies to address long-standing needs and take advantage of the real opportunities with DOE assets. In a new paper "Changes are Coming: Building Momentum for EM's Scope and Progress", the Energy Communities Alliance (ECA), which represents local governments and communities near DOE and other nuclear sites, details the priorities and issues for DOE leadership as it reviews
and analyzes EM issues. The paper highlights how the EM budget may not continue to grow each year and what steps can be taken to make the EM program more efficient. In no particular order, EM should consider the following to be program priorities: - Define the EM Mission Scope
- Continue to Focus on Reusing DOE Assets
- Look for new ways to improve EM Operations
You can read the full paper online as a part of our ECA Bulletin, alongside stories on the current status of Energy and Water Appropriations, ECA's collaboration based siting community grants, nuclear
communities abroad, and more! The Bulletin will be available in print later this week at the 11th Annual National Cleanup Workshop, in Arlington, VA, where Joel Bradburne, Acting Assistant Secretary for EM will be providing a keynote address. ECA looks forward to discussing "Changes are Coming" alongside other topics salient to the EM Cleanup mission. To learn more about the Workshop, keep reading below! For more information on the Cleanup Workshop, keep reading below!
SENATE CONFIRMS NEW DOE LEADERSHIP
The Senate approved 48 nominations last week including the new leadership for National Nuclear Security Administration, the Office of Science and the Office Nuclear Energy. The full list of DOE and other related nominees that were confirmed by the Senate are set forth below: - Theodore J. Garrish, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (Department of
Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy),
- Dario Gil, of New York, to be Under Secretary for Science, Department of Energy
- Brandon Williams, of New York, to be Under Secretary for Nuclear Security,
- Jonathan Brightbill, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Department of Energy,
- Tina Pierce, of Idaho, to be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Energy,
- Conner Prochaska, of Texas, to be Director of the Advanced Research
Projects Agency-Energy, Department of Energy,
- Matthew Napoli, of Virginia, to be Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, National Nuclear Security Administration,
- Scott Pappano, of Pennsylvania, to be Principal Deputy Administrator, National Nuclear Security Administration,
- Jessica Kramer, of Wisconsin, to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
- Katherine Scarlett, of Ohio, to be a Member of the
Council on Environmental Quality
ECA looks forward to discussing how new leadership will direct the Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management and Office of Nuclear Energy at this year's National Cleanup Workshop.
OKLO BREAKS GROUND ON FIRST AURORA POWERHOUSE IN IDAHO FALLS
Oklo is holding a groundbreaking ceremony at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) today for its first Aurora powerhouse, the Aurora-INL. The event will feature opening remarks from Oklo co-founder and CEO Jacob DeWitte and INL Director John Wagner, keynote remarks from U.S. Environmental Protections Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin, and brief remarks from officials including Idaho
Governor Bradley Little, Utah Governor Spencer Cox, U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and James Risch, U.S. Congressman Mike Simpson, Idaho Lieutenant Governor Scott Bedke, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Commissioner Bradley Crowell, U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Michael Goff and Robert Boston, and Idaho Falls Mayor Rebecca Casper.
Oklo is participating in the DOE’s newly established Reactor Pilot Program, a pathway created in response to executive orders signed in May 2025 to accelerate advanced nuclear deployment and to modernize nuclear licensing. Aurora-INL is one of three projects awarded to Oklo under the program, with two awarded directly to Oklo and one awarded to its subsidiary, Atomic
Alchemy. “Oklo Inc.'s Aurora powerhouse will deliver clean, affordable, and reliable American energy to power a new generation of intelligence manufacturing across the country,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “As advancements in artificial intelligence drive up electricity demands, projects like this are critical to ensuring the United States can meet that need and remain at the forefront of the global AI
arms race. I am honored to be attending today's groundbreaking in order to witness firsthand the innovation and increased energy production we’re seeing under President Donald J. Trump’s American Energy Dominance Agenda.” The Aurora-INL is a sodium-cooled fast reactor that uses metal fuel and builds on the design and operating heritage of the Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II), which ran in Idaho from 1964 to 1994.
Oklo was awarded fuel recovered from EBR-II by the DOE in 2019 and has completed two of four steps for DOE authorization to fabricate its initial core at the Aurora Fuel Fabrication Facility (A3F) at INL. Read the full story by clicking here.
COMMUNITIES ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS IN AN UPDATED ECA 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 paper here.
THE NATIONAL CLEANUP WORKSHOP IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER - REGISTER BEFORE YOU MISS OUT!
September 24 - 25, 2025 | Crystal Gateway Marriott | Arlington, VA The National Cleanup Workshop is this week! The premier cleanup conference will be held September 24-25 at the Crystal
Gateway Marriott - Arlington, VA! Join us to hear from our Keynote speaker Joel Bradburne, Acting Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM), and a wide array of federal representatives, industry officials and state and local leaders. We will explore how the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management is working to drive down risks while also building up
new opportunities for communities and the nation.
WHO'S SPEAKING?
Joel Bradburne | Acting Assistant Secretary DOE-EM, Portsmouth Paducah Project Office Manager James McConnell | Acting Principal Deputy Administrator, NNSA
Greg
Sosson | Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Field Operations, DOE-EM
Kristen Ellis | Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regulatory and Policy Affairs, DOE-EM
Brent Gerry | Mayor, City of West Richland, WA; Chair, ECA
Rebecca Casper | Mayor, City of Idaho Falls, ID; Vice-Chair, ECA
Jonathan “JD” Dowell | Senior Vice President,
Fluor
Heatherly Dukes | President, BWXT Technical Services Group
DJ Johnson | Vice President, Federal Solutions Business Enterprise, Honeywell Federal Solutions; Chair, EFCOG
Mark Johnson | Principal Vice President, High Level Waste Facility, Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP), Bechtel
Jeff Kendall | President, AtkinsRéalis U.S. Nuclear
Michael
Lempke | President, Nuclear and Environmental Services, HII
Mark Whitney | President, Amentum
...and more!
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 EXHIBITS & SPONSORSHIPS
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! STAY CONNECTED
ECA LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/energy-communities-alliance
EFCOG Twitter: @EFCOG_now
DOE EM Twitter: @EMcleanup
#NationalCleanupWorkshop SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS 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)*.
Gone Fission Podcast - TVA SMR at Clinch River September 22,
2025 | S5 E5 The 2025 Nuclear Opportunities Workshop sponsored by the East Tennessee Economic Council in Knoxville continues to yield newsworthy stories for the Gone Fission podcast. This week, host Michael Butler talks with Tennessee Valley Authority Vice President Greg Borschieg about TVA's plans to build a small modular reactor on the Clinch River site in Oak Ridge. In
May, TVA became the first American utility to apply for a construction permit to build an SMR. Learn more about this groundbreaking project in this week's episode of the Gone Fission podcast. https://gonefissionpodcast.com/ EFCOG Exchange Podcast September 17, 2025 | S1 E1 In this debut episode, EFCOG Chair and Honeywell Federal Solutions VP/GM David “DJ” Johnson sits down with Mike Nartker, VP of Communications at Longenecker & Associates, to explore EFCOG’s history, mission, and the impactful work happening across the DOE complex. New to EFCOG? This episode offers an engaging introduction to the
organization and its current priorities. Already familiar? You’ll hear fresh insights from DJ and Mike on opportunities to strengthen collaboration with DOE—highlighting how digital tools and AI can help advance the Department’s evolving mission. Stay tuned for future episodes of the EFCOG Exchange Podcast, where we’ll continue spotlighting innovation, collaboration, and success across the DOE enterprise. https://efcog.buzzsprout.com/2531686 NucleCast
- Dr. Rich Tighe, Exploring Y-12: The Heart of Nuclear Security September 16, 2025 | S03 E236 In this episode of NucleCast, Adam interviews Dr. Rich Tighe, the president and CEO of Consolidated Nuclear Security, discussing the current operations and future outlook of the
Y-12 National Security Complex. Rich explains the complex's historical significance, its current missions, and the challenges it faces in workforce recruitment and safety. The conversation also touches on modernization efforts, collaboration with design agencies, and the importance of community support. Rich shares his aspirations for the future, including the need for continued growth and innovation in nuclear security. https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/
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