BREAKING NEWS: PRESIDENT'S FY27 BUDGET RELEASED TODAY

The White House and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released the President’s Budget Request for fiscal year 2027 (FY27) earlier today (April 3, 2026). Below, find funding items according to the budget document that may be relevant to energy communities: 

“The Budget requests $53.9 billion in discretionary budget authority for DOE, a $4.8 billion or nearly 10-percent increase from the 2026 enacted level excluding the Working Families Tax Cut Act (WFTC) funding. Within the requested amount, $32.8 billion is allocated to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a $3.6 billion or 12-percent increase from the 2026 enacted level (including WFTC funding), which highlights America’s unwavering resolve to strengthen the U.S. nuclear deterrent—the cornerstone of America’s defense against threats from adversaries. The remaining $21.1 billion reflects a $2.7 billion or 11-percent reduction from the 2026 enacted level, achieved by slashing Green New Scam initiatives and rooting out woke diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

Environmental Management (–$386 million): The Budget provides $8.2 billion to address legacy waste and contamination in communities that housed nuclear weapons production during the Manhattan Project and the Cold War, including $3 billion to continue cleanup progress at the Hanford site in Washington. The reduction in funding reflects a strategic focus on near-term, critical path cleanup milestones. For example:

• Reductions focus on operating the new Direct Feed Low-Activity Waste Facility to reduce liability rather than accumulating unobligated balances for partially designed facilities.

Bolstering Energy Dominance (+$4.7 billion): The Budget repurposes Green New Scam funding from Biden-era Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) legislation to make energy more abundant and affordable. This includes $3.5 billion to rapidly deploy from baseload power and $1.2 billion for AI to support seven AI supercomputers at the Argonne and Oak Ridge National Laboratories. 

Strengthening Nuclear Security (+$3.6 billion): The Budget focuses NNSA on its most important mission—producing a robust, credible, and modern nuclear deterrent that protects the American people. The United States must maintain and expand its set of nuclear capabilities that allow the President flexibility to protect the homeland and deter adversaries. Specifically, the Budget makes strong investments to develop new warheads that would bolster deterrence, modernize NNSA’s supporting infrastructure, and extend the life of existing warheads. The Budget also enables NNSA to develop next-generation reactor technology for future naval systems, while also improving NNSA’s capability to keep America safe from radiological and nuclear terrorism through the Nuclear Emergency Support Team.

Driving Domestic Critical Minerals Production (+$394 million): The Budget supports targeted spending to develop a domestic supply of critical minerals using America’s abundant natural resources. This includes critical minerals production and processing pilot scale demonstrations that, when commercialized, would work to secure supply chains that are vulnerable to coercion by foreign adversaries.

Office of Science (–$1.1 billion): The Budget eliminates funding for climate change and Green New Scam research while maintaining U.S. competitiveness in priority areas such as high-performance computing, AI, quantum information science, fusion, and critical mineral research. The Budget would: 

• Stop wasting Biological and Environmental Research resources on climate change and focus funding on advancing biotechnology and AI-enabled earth-energy system modeling to support the Energy Dominance agenda; 
• Reduce funding for the over budget international fusion experiment called ITER and redirect savings to domestic fusion technologies that demonstrate performance; 
• and provide no funding to Minority Serving Institutions for the Reaching a New Energy Sciences Workforce initiative, a discriminatory DEI program to “diversify American leadership in the physical sciences, including energy and climate.”

To learn more, see ECA’s Federal Budget Tracker. We will soon be updating the chart to reflect the President’s FY2027 Budget and compare it with FY2026 enacted numbers. ECA will continue to provide updates on the budget and appropriations process. 

To review the President’s budget and various factsheets, please click here.

DON'T MISS OUT! SPEAKER AGENDA AVAILABLE FOR ECA FORUM

Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) is pleased to host the fifth annual ECA Forum in Augusta, GA from April 21 - April 24, 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.

We are excited to annouce an Agenda packed with sessions and speakers spanning the whole nuclear supply chain for the ECA Forum - The Business of Nuclear: Communities and Industry Working Together! Hear from local, state, federal, and private leaders including:

Ted Garrish - Assistant Secretary, DOE-NE

Tim Walsh – Assistant Secretary, DOE-EM

James McConnell – Associate Principal Deputy Administrator, NNSA

Kristen Ellis – Associate Principal Deputy Under Secretary, DOE

Jack Craig - Senior Vice President, Atkins Realis

Adrienne Schweer – Head of Government Affairs, Oklo

Cristina Paredes – Executive Director, SC Nexus

Rod Baltzer – CEO, Deep Isolation

Nikki Sizemore – Manager, Government Affairs, Kairos

Chuck Hope – Councilmember, City of Oak Ridge and ECA Chair

Robbie Bennett – President & CEO, SRSCRO

Doreen Harris - CEO, NYSERDA

Suzanne Jaworowski - Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources, State of Indiana 

Jack Ladyman - Representative (District 32), Arkansas House of Representatives

Shay Lundvall – Mayor, City of Gillette, WY

Chris Stearns – Representative (District 47-Position 2), Washington State Legislature

...and many more!

They'll be joining on critical discussions, including:

🔹 Nuclear Initiatives Across the Federal Government 

🔹 Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses 

🔹 Developing the Nuclear Supply Chain - Needs and Opportunities

🔹 Creating the Right Business Environment for Nuclear Facilities
🔹 Commercializing Nuclear: Next-to-Market Technologies
🔹 Building National, State, and Local Workforce

…and more! 

We would like to give a big thanks to Gold Sponsors Atkins Realis, Oklo, Georgia Power, and Southern Nuclear for their support of energy communities and making this must-attend event a reality.

Meet Atkins Realis, Oklo, Southern Nuclear, Georgia Power, and a whole host of other nuclear leaders, developers, and innovators at the ECA Forum!

SCHEDULE:

April 21 | Registration Opens & Nuclear 101
April 22 | Full-Day General Session
April 23 | Half-Day General Session
April 24 | All-Day Tour

ECA is working with private and community partners to develop an agenda that takes a comprehensive look at what new nuclear projects require - from the front-end to the back-end of the fuel cycle to aligning support at local, state and federal levels. The Forum will explore emerging options for enabling legislation, public-private partnerships and regulatory oversight.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
The ECA Forum is open to communities, State, Tribal and local policymakers, industry, utilities, developers, experts, financiers, state legislators, community groups, and economic development organizations working to build capacity and support for new nuclear development in the U.S.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

ECA New Nuclear Forum 2026

Augusta, GA | April 21 - 23

Learn More Here

National Cleanup Workshop 2026

Arlington, VA | September 14-16

Learn More Here

ECA Winter Series: How Collaboration Among Companies and Community Hosts Will Strengthen Nuclear Fuel Cycle Innovation

January 8, 2026

DOE’s recent Request for Information on Nuclear Fuel Cycle Innovation Campuses signals federal interest in accelerating advanced fuel capabilities — potentially including HALEU production, fuel fabrication, recycling, testing infrastructure, and integrated research hubs. Today’s discussion focuses on the central question: How will collaboration among private companies and community leaders strengthen the delivery of Nuclear Fuel Cycle Innovation Campuses? Join the discussion to explore different models and how public-private collaboration can strengthen proposals, reduce risk, and build durable local support. 

Speakers will include: 

John Pfeffer - Supervisor, Town of Ashford 

Bill Goodwin - Chief Legal & Strategy Officer, Oklo 

Rod Baltzer - CEO, Deep Isolation 

Curtis Roberts II - VP of Communications and Press Officer, Orano USA

View the full webinar recording here! 

ECA Winter Series: Options for High Level Waste and Used Nuclear Fuel

February 12, 2026

The siting of new nuclear facilities requires integrated nuclear waste solutions that balance technical, regulatory, and social readiness. This goes beyond just regulatory compliance - it demands trust, transparency, and shared problem-solving among local governments, state agencies, developers, and residents. This webinar will explore how siting efforts can deliver on these environmental management goals while accelerating project timelines, developing local economies, and strengthening community confidence in long-term energy infrastructure decisions. 

Speakers will include: 

Facilitator: Laura Hermann - Deputy Executive Director, ECA 

Matt Bowen - Research Scholar, Center on Global Energy Policy 

Kara Colton - Director of Nuclear Policy, ECA 

David Reeploeg - Vice President of Federal Programs, TRIDEC 

Jack Volpato - Eddy-Lea Energy Alliance

View the full webinar recording here! 

ECA Winter Series: Co-location Options with Nuclear Storage

January 8, 2026

As data centers and advanced fuel cycle facilities seek reliable, carbon-free power, new opportunities are emerging to co-locate these energy-intensive operations with nuclear generation and spent fuel storage sites. Such integration could strengthen grid resilience, reduce transmission losses, align high-demand digital infrastructure with established nuclear security and safety protocols and diversify economic opportunities for host communities and regions. Yet it also raises complex questions about regulatory frameworks, community acceptance, and long-term stewardship of nuclear materials. This webinar will bring together experts from the energy, technology, and policy sectors to explore how thoughtful colocation strategies can balance innovation, safety, and public trust in the next generation of nuclear infrastructure.
Speakers will include:
Moderator - Jennifer Chandler - Council Member, Village of Piketon 
Randall Hemann - City Manager, City of Oak Ridge 
David Pointer - Director, Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Division, ORNL
Michele Sampson - Director, Division of New and Renewed Licenses, Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, NRC
Dr. Jenifer Shafer- Associate Director for Technology and Program Director, ARPA-E

View the full webinar recording here! 

ECA Winter Series: Advancing New Nuclear with Datacenter Development

December 8, 2025

As artificial intelligence and cloud computing drive exponential growth in electricity demand, data center developers are turning to nuclear energy for reliable, carbon-free power needed to operate continuously. This session explores the concerns local officials must address when co-locating data centers with existing or new nuclear generation. Speakers will discuss regulatory considerations, what makes an “ideal” site, community engagement, and partnership models that align digital infrastructure expansion with public safety and sustainability goals.

Moderator: AJ Ridge - Director of Programs, ECA

Iain Macdonald - Principal and Future Energy Systems Development Lead, HKS

Ilissa Miller - Editor-in-Chief, DataCenter Post

David Reeploeg - Executive Director, Hanford Communities

Peter Rodrik - Associate Administrator for Partnership and Acquisition Services, NNSA

Aditi Verma - Assistant Professor, University of Michigan

View the full webinar recording here! 

ECA Winter Series: Creating Emergency Response Planning for Nuclear Storage Projects

November 6, 2025

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 include:

Moderator: Laura Hermann - Deputy Executive Director, Energy Communities Alliance

Chief Mike Cochran - Police Chief, City of Craig, Colorado

Lea Perlas - Fusion Program Director, Virginia Department of Health

Randall Ryti - Councilor, Los Alamos County, New Mexico

Brian Scroggins - Administrator of the Division of Planning, Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects

View the full webinar recording here! 

ECA Summer Series: Investing in Innovation: Financing Advanced Nuclear Projects

September 12, 2025

Wall Street has arrived to Main Street. Understanding financing pathways is no longer optional—it’s a prerequisite for informed local leadership and successful project development. Join ECA in its upcoming webinar featuring panelists shaping financing solutions for new generation of nuclear projects. Learn about the new business models emerging and how the financing will occur. Nuclear projects will only move forward if they are financeable. While government funding has played a vital role, the new generation of projects are looking at how to structure the “capital stack” and use a mix of private financing (debt and equity), tax credits, and DOE loan program. In addition, the announced Power Purchase Agreements between utilities and large off-taker such as Google, Meta and Amazon are providing the credit needed to attract financing – once the projects are ready for market. Join a conversation that will bring together government and the private sector to discuss these items and make recommendations on how these projects can move forward to facilitate these exciting business opportunities. This means real opportunities to attract capital, create jobs, and leverage nuclear projects for broader economic development.

Speakers include experts shaping the future of nuclear finance:

Facilitator: Seth Kirshenberg - Executive Director | Energy Communities Alliance and Partner, Kutak Rock LLP

Andy Roehr - Managing Director | Baker Tilly Advisory Group, LP

Anthony Huston - Managing Partner | Quadrant Nuclear Industries

Chris Lohse - Innovation and Technology Manager | Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear

View the full webinar recording here!

PODCASTS ON NUCLEAR: 

Gone Fission 2/9: 

It’s being called the biggest construction failure in American history. Companies went bankrupt. Executives went to jail. Ratepayers got stuck with the bill.
This week’s episode of the Gone Fission podcast takes a look at the history and current status of the Virgil Summer Nuclear Plant in South Carolina. Can this vital project be successfully revived? Can it contribute to future energy needs? Our guest is Jim Little, an industry veteran and member of the SC Governor’s Nuclear Advisory Council.

Virtual | February 12, 2026

Listen here!