TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS & WHAT TO KNOW THIS WEEK
- During the ECA Board Meeting hosted on September 23, ECA elected a new Board of Directors - see more below
- 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
ECA ELECTS NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Prior to the kickoff of the 11th Annual National Cleanup Workshop, ECA Board members met on Tuesday September 23, to vote in the new ECA Executive Board for the 2026-2027 term. The incoming board members will serve a two-year term beginning on January 1, 2026. The ECA Board Chair since 2022, Mayor Brent Gerry of West Richland, WA said, “It has been an honor to serve as the chair of ECA the past four years, and I look forward to seeing the accomplishments of the incoming board.” Please find the 2026-2027 Executive Board listed below: ECA Chair – Councilmember Chuck Hope (Oak Ridge, TN) ECA Vice-Chair – Mayor Pro Tem Jason “JJ” Chavez (Carlsbad, NM) ECA Secretary – Chairman & Commissioner Jerome Delvin (Benton County, WA) ECA Treasurer – Councilor Randall Ryti (Los Alamos County, NM) ECA Member-At-Large – Mayor Pro Tem Sandra Wilson (Paducah, KY) We would like to congratulate the incoming board members for the 2026-2027 term and we look forward to their leadership and guidance as we continue to move forward ECA members’ goals and priorities. ECA looks forward to discussing these items throughout the National Cleanup Workshop when it begins in earnest Wednesday,
September 24.
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!
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 KICKS OFF!
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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