TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS & WHAT TO KNOW THIS WEEK
ECA TALKS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AT MULTIPLE NEA EVENTSIn October, ECA was invited to provide keynote addresses at two Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) events: the inaugural Symposium of the NEA’s Global Forum on Nuclear Education, Science, Technology, and Policy, hosted by the University of Michigan at the beginning of the month; and last week, at
the Fourth NEA Stakeholder Involvement Workshop on Optimization in Decision Making: From Insight to Action, in Paris, France. At the University of Michigan, ECA Director of Nuclear Policy, Kara Colton, spoke to close to 180 educators and nuclear engineering students from around the world about changing community perspectives on nuclear energy, the need for meaningful engagement and iterative communication with host
communities, States and Tribes to build the trust necessary to successfully deploy advanced nuclear technologies. At the NEA Stakeholder Involvement Workshop, with 130 participants from over 40 countries, Ms. Colton provided a keynote on the need for local engagement related to the back end of the fuel cycle, addressing issues including siting nuclear waste storage and disposal facilities and transportation. Ms. Colton explained to both audiences that over the past five years, ECA has hosted and participated in many discussions focused either on advanced nuclear development or on the challenges of the back end of the fuel cycle, noting: “What we found is, when talking about nuclear waste with potential host communities, of course, local leaders want to
know that the facility will be safe. But they are also very focused on the economic development opportunities related to what will be a multi-generational project. Why should they agree to host it? What is the business case or value proposition? What are the potential benefits? Will there be jobs for people already living in the community? An interim storage facility alone, after construction, is not expected to create the large number of jobs these communities are looking for, so what projects
make sense alongside an interim storage mission? On the flip side, when talking about new nuclear development, communities are excited about new technologies, but they want to be sure that any waste generated will be safely managed and not remain stranded in their communities for decades beyond what was originally envisioned.” In short,
conversations about siting anything nuclear are conflating. Local leaders will have a hand in permitting and zoning; infrastructure upgrades at the municipal level; emergency preparedness and first responders; as well as workforce pipelines and supply chain development for any new build – whether a waste facility or energy production. Thus, the better way to engage, Ms. Colton advised, is to take a holistic approach. ECA sees a real opportunity to consider the whole lifecycle – front end and
back end – of a nuclear project with potential host communities so they can understand all the challenges and opportunities, identify their priorities and make informed decisions about what they do and do not want. Thank you very much to NEA for the invitation to speak at the Global Forum and Stakeholder Engagement Workshop! We look forward to continuing partnership in the future. Read the full summary here.
DAY 22 OF THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNThis week, the federal government enters its third week of shutdown, with the Senate still unable to reach the 60-vote threshold to pass a CR.
WINTER WEBINAR SERIES BEGINNING NOVEMBER 5!
ECA kicks off a forthcoming Winter Webinar Series with our first webinar titled
"Preparing for an EOI on Consolidated Storage: Emergency Preparedness" 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 will include: Moderator: Laura Hermann - Deputy Executive Director, Energy Communities Alliance Dr. Erica Bickford - Director for the Office of Storage & Transportation, DOE-NE (Invited) Chief Mike Cochran - Police Chief, City of Craig, Colorado Lea Perlas - Director, Virginia Office of Radiological Health Randall Ryti - Councilor, Los Alamos County, New Mexico Register for the upcoming webinar here.
TENNESSEE HOSTS 2025 NUCLEAR SCIENCE WEEKThe American Museum of Science & Energy (AMSE) will host Nuclear Science Week (NSW) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee,
October 20–24, 2025, celebrating the region’s legacy and leadership in nuclear science. Nuclear Science Week is a national, week-long celebration of nuclear science, highlighting its contributions to energy, medicine, national security, and technology. Hosting NSW in Oak Ridge emphasizes the city’s longstanding role in nuclear innovation — a legacy that began with the Manhattan Project and continues today. This week will
feature more than ten events that bring together students, educators, industry experts, civic leaders, and private and corporate partners. "We are honored that Oak Ridge has been chosen as the national site for Nuclear Science Week this year," said Alan Lowe, Executive Director at AMSE. "This week brings together educators, industry leaders, students, and community members. It’s an exciting opportunity to build on the
atomic history, showcase the region’s role in nuclear innovation, and to inspire the next generation of leaders in science and technology." During NSW, participants can explore STEM education opportunities, workforce and professional development sessions, tours of historic and modern sites, and collaborative programs that showcase the value of nuclear science today. The week will culminate in an all-age, family-friendly
exposition at AMSE, featuring hands-on exhibits, guest speakers, and displays from regional partners in nuclear technology. “East Tennessee is leading a new era of nuclear innovation” said Tracy Boatner, President & CEO of the East Tennessee Economic Council. “In just the past few years, 10 companies have chosen the Oak Ridge Corridor for their new nuclear projects, and more announcements are imminent. Nuclear is
powering Tennessee's future and reestablishing this region as a hub of innovation, workforce, and growth." Register for
the event here
NEW NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHT: WASHINGTON
In ECA’s latest paper, “From the Atomic Age to New Nuclear,” ECA captures a snapshot of the nuclear projects underway in the United States by state including both federal and private
sites, and lays out the attributes that make energy communities optimal for this new era of American nuclear leadership. Keep reading what new nuclear projects are already underway in the great state of Kentucky in the excerpt below: Energy Northwest SMR Development- Amazon, X-energy and Energy Northwest are partnering to support the development of an advanced reactor near Energy Northwest’s Columbia
Generating Station near Richland, WA. This partnership includes commitments from Amazon to provide approximately $334 million in funding for the initial feasibility phase of Energy Northwest’s project, and to make a $500 million direct investment in X-energy. The advanced reactors in development are the Xe-100 model; high temperature gas-cooled reactors developed by X-energy. Each Xe-100 module can provide 80 megawatts of full-time electricity, with up to 12 modules able to be sited
together. Read more about the project here. HALEU Metallization Pilot Production Facility - Framatome and TerraPower are cooperating to design and develop a high-assay low enriched uranium (HALEU) metallization pilot plant at Framatome’s nuclear fuel manufacturing facility in Richland, Washington. The plant will bolster Framatome's ability to convert uranium oxide (UO2) into HALEU metal, a crucial metal that is used to fabricate fuel for advanced reactors.
In addition, the plant will supply metal feedstock and help TerraPower build a domestic HALEU supply chain. Read more about the project here. "Project Dune" - The City of Richland, WA has signed a Purchase & Sale Agreement for 425 acres of former Hanford Site land with a company whose name has not yet been made public but is referred to as “Project Dune” an acronym standing for Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE). Upon completion, the $3
billion project will produce enriched uranium for advanced nuclear fuel and is projected to create approximately 1,000 jobs. Read more about the project
here. To learn more about New Nuclear projects in Kentucky and across the country, as well as how energy communities will be instrumental to their success, click here to read From the Atomic Age to New Nuclear.
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! Click here to learn more about the upcoming ECA New Nuclear Forum!
WHAT YOU'VE MISSED: Commission on the Scaling of Fusion Energy publishes fusion report This report underscores the urgent need for the United States to prioritize the rapid commercialization of fusion energy to secure U.S. national security and restore American energy dominance. Fusion, the process that powers the stars, offers the potential for an abundant, clean, and geographically unconstrained energy source,
poised to revolutionize the global energy landscape and boost economic growth. Read the full report ANS sends waste policy recommendations to DOE The American Nuclear Society has sent a letter to Energy Secretary Chris Wright with a set of
recommendations for the Department of Energy to take to establish an effective national program to manage the storage, reprocessing, and final disposal of U.S. commercial used nuclear fuel. Read the full story Fusion entering implementation phase, says Grossi
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s World Fusion
Outlook 2025 report says there are more than 160 fusion devices now either operational, under construction or planned. The agency’s Director General, Rafael Mariano Grossi, says in his foreword to the third edition of the yearly report that these devices range from "pilot plants aiming for demonstration in the near term to larger scale facilities laying the foundations for future industrial deployment". Read the full story
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