TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS & WHAT TO KNOW THIS WEEK

DOE-NE ASSISTANT SECRETARY ADDRESSES NATIONAL CLEANUP WORKSHOP & DAY 2 TAKEAWAYS!

Department of Energy Deputy Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Reactors Dr. Rian Bahran was the featured keynote speaker for Thursday, September 25 at the 11^th annual National Cleanup Workshop. Dr. Rebecca Casper, ECA Vice Chair and Mayor of the City of Idaho Falls, ID introduced the Assistant Secretary and stressed the nexus between NE opportunities and EM responsibilities.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Bahran stressed DOE Secretary Chris White’s vision to realize the nuclear renaissance and noted the direction to give every nudge possible to achieve this goal. He expressed his excitement at the progress the Department has made stating, “The pace we are moving at is faster than anything I’ve ever seen, it is incredibly exciting…The Secretary has directed that we will be testing at least three reactors by next year – and we are on track to meet that goal.” Noting the Trump Administration’s commitment to nuclear energy, he highlighted the four executive orders President Trump signed on May 23, 2025 to invest in the nuclear energy industry, and the opportunities for partnerships with EM on future nuclear activities. Further, the Deputy Assistant Secretary focused on the need for nuclear energy in developing additional energy needed to support AI datacenters and a DOE initiative of selecting four existing sites - Idaho National Laboratory, Oak Ridge Reservation, Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant and the Savannah River Site. In closing, Assistant Secretary Bahran drove home the excitement relating to upcoming projects coming down the pike and preparing for testing of new reactors in the near future. 

Here are the Major Takeaways from Day 2:

1. Successful public/private partnerships are critical to advancing EM goals.
2. Focusing on the cleanup and disposal of legacy waste is imperative right now, but concurrently ensuring no new legacies are created in the process. 
3. Continuously engaging with communities to build transparent and trusted relationships is imperative to the success of EM projects.

During the first day of the National Cleanup Workshop, Acting Assistant Secretary Joel Bradburne delivered the keynote address highlighting the critical need of EM to accelerate reuse to fuel new nuclear development. 

Thank you to Acting Assistant Secretary Joel Bradburne and to Deputy Assistant Secretary Rian Bahran for taking the time to speak at the National Cleanup Workshop! Finally, ECA wants to thank all attendees for your energy, partnership, and collaboration this week as we close the final day of the 2025 National Cleanup Workshop. 

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:

‘Searching for energy solutions,’ Idaho Gov. Little creates new task force to advance nuclear energy

Idaho Governor Brad Little signed an executive order creating the Idaho Advanced Nuclear Energy Task Force while he was attending the Western Governors’ Association’s Energy Superabundance conference at Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls. 

Read the full story

WIPP Bound: Oak Ridge Meets FY25 Goal of Eight Transuranic Waste Shipments

The Oak Ridge Office of Environmental Management has met its goal to complete eight shipments of transuranic waste to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant for permanent disposal this fiscal year ending Sept. 30, further reducing its inventory of the material.

Read the full story

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:

ECA New Nuclear Forum 2026

Augusta, GA | April 21 - 24

Learn More Here