TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS & WHAT TO KNOW THIS WEEK

DOE-EM ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY ADDRESSES NATIONAL CLEANUP WORKSHOP & DAY 1 TAKEAWAYS!

Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM) Acting Assistant Secretary Joel Bradburne was the featured keynote speaker on Wednesday, September 24 at the 2025 National Cleanup Workshop. Brent Gerry, ECA Chair and Mayor of West Richland, WA introduced the Acting Assistant Secretary and commended his experience within the EM program. 

Acting Assistant Secretary Bradburne emphasized his alignment with DOE Secretary Chris White’s ambitious vision for the new nuclear future, and the critical need of EM to accelerate reuse to fuel new nuclear development. He highlighted the steps DOE has already taken, citing DOE’s selection of four sites - Idaho National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Reservation, Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant and the Savannah River Site - to accelerate the development of AI infrastructure through siting on DOE lands. Building off this, Bradburne said, “We are in a race of national importance, and it is the EM sites and their host communities that have the best chance of winning us that race”. However, he noted that the success of these ambitious projects cannot happen without community involvement stating, “You cannot separate site and community - nothing is confined to the DOE space.” 

Here are the Major Takeaways from Day 1:

1. Sustainable change that is replicable and communicable is best for long term success.
2. Continuously engaging with communities to build transparent and trusted relationships is imperative to the success of EM projects.
3. Building out nuclear education and career opportunities for the next generation at every step of the way is vital for future success in cleanup and nuclear deployment. 

Thank you to Acting Assistant Secretary Joel Bradburne for taking the time to speak at the National Cleanup Workshop! ECA looks forward to hosting the second and final day of the 2025 National Cleanup Workshop on Thursday. DOE Office of Nuclear Energy Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Reactors, Dr. Rian Bahran will be providing a keynote address and overview of how DOE-NE is working with communities to create a new nuclear future. Read more about the National Cleanup Workshop Below!

THE NATIONAL CLEANUP WORKSHOP WRAPS UP TOMORROW!

WHO'S SPEAKING ON DAY 2?

Dr. Rian Bahran | Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Reactors, DOE-NE 

James McConnell | Acting Principal Deputy Administrator, NNSA
Kristen Ellis | Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regulatory and Policy Affairs, DOE-EM
Rebecca Casper | Mayor, City of Idaho Falls, ID; Vice-Chair, ECA
Jonathan “JD” Dowell | Senior Vice President, Fluor
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
​...and more!

ECA ELECTS NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Prior to the kickoff of the 11^th 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.

WHAT YOU'VE MISSED:

MIT’s work with Idaho National Laboratory advances America’s nuclear industry

Amid renewed excitement around nuclear energy in America, MIT’s research community is working to further develop next-generation fuels, accelerate the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs), and enable the first nuclear reactor in space.

Read the full story

One Year Later: Crane Clean Energy Center Still in the Spotlight and Ahead of Schedule

Constellation’s restart announcement stands as a defining moment for American nuclear power, riding a wave of public support and launching widespread commercial interest in nuclear energy to power the digital economy and strengthen grid reliability.

Read the full story

Environmental Management Site-Specific Advisory Board (EM SSAB) to hold public meeting relating to the Idaho Cleanup Project.

PODCASTS ON NUCLEAR:

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/

UPCOMING MEETINGS:

National Cleanup Workshop 2025

Arlington, VA | September 23 - 25

Learn More Here

ECA New Nuclear Forum 2026

Augusta, GA | April 21 - 24

Learn More Here