TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS & WHAT TO KNOW THIS WEEK

DOE-EM AWARDS $5 MILLION GRANT TO SRSCRO TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL WORKFORCE FOR NUCLEAR CLEANUP ACTIVITIES

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) announced today that it has awarded a $5 million non-competitive grant to the Savannah River Site (SRS) Community Reuse Organization (SRSCRO) in North Augusta, South Carolina. The five-year grant, Workforce Opportunities in Regional Careers (WORC), effective May 9, 2026, supports local colleges and universities by educating and training students for future DOE employment at SRS and throughout the EM complex.
Through this award, SRSCRO will continue to partner with local colleges and universities to strengthen the local workforce pool needed to support the DOE-EM and National Nuclear Security Administration missions, particularly those missions at the SRS, but also in support of other regional career paths.

Robbie Bennett, President and CEO of SRSCRO says, "developing the next generation of nuclear and STEM workers is essential to the SRS national security and cleanup missions. This investment directly strengthens our region's workforce pipeline and opens doors for students in our community to build careers that matter. We are grateful for DOE-EM and NNSA's continued confidence in SRSCRO and our university partners."

Through WORC, local colleges and universities are providing education and training opportunities that align with SRS and regional employer requisite skills, experience, certifications, and proficiency across multiple scientific, engineering, technical, craft, and business support disciplines. SRS workforce demands are growing with new missions being announced recently and workers are employed by multiple contractors and government agencies who have skillsets that support operations, maintenance, engineering, cybersecurity, environmental cleanup, health physics, research science, business support services, and more. SRS is also home to the Savannah River National Laboratory, which requires a workforce to serve DOE scientific research for the nation.

For more than 35 years, EM has remained focused on addressing the environmental legacy of nuclear weapons development and nuclear energy research that helped end World War II, win the Cold War and position the United States as a leader in nuclear energy. This partnership with SRSCRO advances EM’s mission in delivering results that are protecting the environment, supporting communities and enabling a concerted focus on safely completing the mission sooner and efficiently.

Key Topics of Discussion Include:

• EM’s new vision for utilizing legacy cleanup to advance American Energy dominance, innovation and affordability.
• The opportunities for EM to contribute to, and benefit from, DOE’s Genesis Mission to more effectively utilize AI to tackle national challenges.
• The intersection of legacy cleanup and advancing DOE’s modernization of the U.S. nuclear deterrent.
• EM’s role in the new nuclear renaissance underway across America.
• Industry leadership perspectives on DOE’s cleanup and energy missions.
• The potential for local communities to capitalize on advances in new nuclear.

Schedule:

Tuesday, September 15: Full-Day Programming, Evening Networking Reception

Wednesday, September 16: Full-Day Programming

Full agenda coming soon!

CATCH UP ON RECENT HEADLINES: 

NNSA receives largest-ever HALEU shipment from Japan for use by U.S. industry

The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration announced last week that it has transferred 1.7 metric tons of high-assay low-enriched uranium from Japan to the United States. Done in partnership with Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology and the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, the transfer was the largest single international shipment of uranium in the administration’s history, according to the NNSA.

Read the full article here.

Clean Core’s fuel test complete at INL’s ATR

Clean Core Thorium Energy has announced the completion of its nearly two-year ANEEL fuel irradiation testing and qualification campaign at Idaho National Laboratory. The idea behind ANEEL (Advanced Nuclear Energy for Enriched Life) fuel is to provide existing pressurized heavy water reactors with a fuel option that has increased high-burnup performance without requiring any modification to the reactors.

Read the full article here.

Framatome licensed to produce LEU+ fuel at its Richland plant

Read the full article here.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

National Cleanup Workshop 2026

Arlington, VA | September 14-16

Learn More Here

How Collaboration Among Companies and Community Hosts Will Strengthen Nuclear Fuel Cycle Innovation

March 5, 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! 

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 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! 

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 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! 

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.

Speakers include:

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! 

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! 

PODCASTS ON NUCLEAR: 

Gone Fission 3/9: 

A well-known leader in cleanup of Department of Energy sites nationally is preparing to retire after more than four decades in the industry. Gone Fission podcast host Michael Butler sat down with Ken Rueter, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Cleanup Oak Ridge (UCOR) to review his decades of impressive accomplishments and discuss what’s next for this seasoned executive. From completing the first-ever teardown of a complete uranium enrichment complex to ushering in the nuclear renaissance on clean federal land, Ken’s story covers the history of the Manhattan Project and sets the stage for the nuclear technology of tomorrow.

Listen here!