Apr
22
to Apr 24

ECA NEW NUCLEAR FORUM 2025

  • Energy Communities Alliance (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) is pleased to host the fourth annual ECA Forum with support from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy. 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.

Communities across the country are considering nuclear projects for many reasons - from diversifying regional economies, creating clean energy jobs or meeting carbon reduction goals, to increasing energy security and rebuilding the U.S. supply chain.  Some communities have a familiarity with nuclear energy projects, while others are just beginning to evaluate potential interest.  The ECA Forum is designed to enable shared learning so that local, State and Tribal governments evaluating nuclear projects can be meaningfully engaged - and prepared - to match the strengths and needs of their communities with new nuclear developers and opportunities. 

QUESTIONS?
For any questions, comments, or to learn more about the ECA New Nuclear Forums, please contact Kara Colton, ECA Director of Nuclear Policy, at kara.colton@energyca.org or Faith Sanchez, ECA Program Manager, at faiths@energyca.org.

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Sep
11
1:00 PM13:00

ECA Presents: DOE-NE Coal-to-Nuclear Webinar

Please join the Energy Communities Alliance and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) as they present Coal-to-Nuclear (C2N) Transition Webinar on September 11 from 1:00-2:30 pm ET. As part of ECA’s New Nuclear Initiative, participants will join a discussion with DOE-NE on the feasibility of converting the nation’s retiring coal plants to nuclear power plants. By leveraging the existing workforce and some of the infrastructure in coal communities the transition from coal-to-nuclear could preserve hundreds of jobs, while creating new jobs and economic opportunities. Learn more about C2N here.

Please submit any questions beforehand to Faith Sanchez, Energy Communities Alliance, faiths@energyca.org.

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Jul
17
to Jul 18

Identifying Economic Opportunities for Consent-Based Siting

DOE’s Consent Based Siting (CBS) Initiative is focused on a community driven approach to siting a potential consolidated federal interim storage facility (CISF) for spent nuclear fuel.

ECA is hosting this invitation only meeting to identify, explore, and discuss what business case opportunities may existing for a local, tribal or state government hosting a facility that includes spent nuclear fuel and what policies need to be considered for a community hosting such a site.

The goal of the meeting is to assist communities – broadly defined to include local, state and Tribal governments – to build an “art of the possible” vision that incorporates long-term economic development and diversity goals and is based on lessons learned, input from sender, receiver sites and subject matter experts, and facilitating interaction across all the parties required to reach consent.

Community business opportunities could range from investment in infrastructure, co-locating industrial facilities or reprocessing facilities to create new fuel for advanced reactors, from creating community benefits packages or developing an energy hub to seeking direct payments

For more about the meeting and COnsent Based Siting, see ECA’s Consent Based Siting Website.

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Jun
20
9:00 AM09:00

CRO and Economic Development Opportunities for ECA Communities

This roundtable meeting will review both the history and lessons learned over 30 years of development projects at DOE sites of both real and personal property. It will also highlight how we can all continue to work with DOE on new opportunities in our communities, talk about some of the key roles that CROs and economic development entities can undertake to develop economic opportunities in our communities, and cover in-depth the issues that are salient to our member communities.

For more, read the full meeting summary.

For the full meeting agenda, click here.

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May
7
to May 10

ECA Forum: Building Nuclear Partnerships & Projects

  • Three Rivers Convention Center (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) is pleased to host the third annual ECA Forum with support from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy. 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.

Communities across the country are considering nuclear projects for many reasons - from diversifying regional economies, creating clean energy jobs or meeting carbon reduction goals, to increasing energy security and rebuilding the U.S. supply chain.  Some communities have a familiarity with nuclear energy projects, while others are just beginning to evaluate potential interest.  The ECA Forum is designed to enable shared learning so that local, State and Tribal governments evaluating nuclear projects can be meaningfully engaged - and prepared - to match the strengths and needs of their communities with new nuclear developers and opportunities. 

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.

AGENDA:
ECA, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy, has developed an agenda that continues to look holistically at the what a nuclear project entails: from the front-end of the fuel-cycle to the back-end of the fuel cycle, from building local support, to state support and enabling legislation, from identifying the right public-private partnerships, to understanding regulatory oversight. Session topics include:

  • How to Build Community Acceptance

  • Reusing Energy Sites for New Nuclear Development

  • Understanding Industrial Applications of Nuclear Energy

  • Pursuing a Reliable, Domestic Nuclear Fuel Supply

  • Rebuilding the U.S. Nuclear Supply Chain

AGENDA (PDF) AGENDA (ONLINE)

RESOURCE PAGE

Tuesday, May 7
3pm  Optional Nuclear 101 session
5pm  Welcome Reception *Hosted by Terrestrial Energy

Wednesday, May 8
7:30am Breakfast *Hosted by FLUOR
8:30am ECA Forum
5:30pm Networking Reception *Hosted by Good Energy Collective

Thursday, May 9
8:00am Breakfast
9:00am ECA Forum
5:00pm Networking Reception *Hosted by the Communities of the Tri-Cities

HOTEL INFORMATION:

Click Here to Book a Hotel for the 2024 ECA Forum
A limited number of rooms are available at the SpringHill Suites Kennewick Tri-Cities at the discounted rate of $149/night plus applicable taxes. This rate is available until Friday, April 12, 2024 or until the group block sells out.

SpringHill Suites Kennewick Tri-Cities
7048 West Grandridge Boulevard, Kennewick, Washington, USA, 99336
Tel: +1 509-820-3026
*Complimentary On-Site Parking

 

MEETING GOALS:
This meeting is part of ECA's New Nuclear Initiative to define the role of local governments in supporting the development of the new nuclear technologies, and answer three core questions:

  • What are the newest nuclear technologies and opportunities? 

  • What do communities need to know to attract and support new nuclear development/missions?

  • How can communities support industry, national laboratories, state, and federal governments and how should they communicate about local resources and development opportunities?

  • What hurdles and challenges will communities face - along with industry and developers - and who can we work with to overcome them?

 


INTERESTED IN BEING A SPONSOR?

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Autumn Bogus, ECA Forum Staff, at abogus@la-inc.com.

QUESTIONS?
For any questions, comments, or to learn more about the ECA New Nuclear Forums, please contact Kara Colton, ECA Director of Nuclear Policy, at kara.colton@energyca.org or Faith Sanchez, ECA Program Manager, at faiths@energyca.org.

Don't wait to register! Register now!

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Feb
21
2:00 PM14:00

ECA WEBINAR: Advanced Nuclear Technology Deployment: An Introductory Conversation with U.S. DOE & U.S. NRC

In coordination with the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), ECA is excited to host the first in a new series of educational webinars, "Advanced Nuclear Technology Deployment: An Introductory Conversation with U.S. DOE & U.S. NRC" on Wednesday, February 21st at 2pm EST

This webinar series is designed for any local, State, Tribal governments and communities interested in learning more about advanced reactors developments, demonstrations, and deployments.

 

We hope you will join ECA's Director of Nuclear Policy, Kara Colton, in this important discussion featuring:

  • Dr. Kathryn Huff, Assistant Secretary, Office of Nuclear Energy, DOE

  • John Lubinski, Director, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, NRC

The webinar is open to all interested participants and will have time for audience Q&A. There is no fee to participate but registration is required in advance. 

We hope you can join us and please contact ECA Program Director, Faith Sanchez, (faiths@energyca.org) with any questions.

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ECA Webinar: Planning for the Upcoming Congressional Year: How to Communicate Priorities
Dec
13
2:00 PM14:00

ECA Webinar: Planning for the Upcoming Congressional Year: How to Communicate Priorities

Join ECA, December 13 at 2PM EST for an engaging discussion around "Planning for the Upcoming Congressional Year: How to Communicate Priorities". Register to learn more from Congressional and DOE insiders, Jaime Shimek, former House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee clerk, Colin Jones, Vice President, Deputy General Manager of the Jacobs North American Nuclear Group, Mary Louise Wagner, Governmental Affairs Consultant and facilitated by David Reeploeg, Head of ECA Public Policy Committee.

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Reprocessing and Recycling: The Outlook and Impact on New Nuclear Development
Sep
28
1:00 PM13:00

Reprocessing and Recycling: The Outlook and Impact on New Nuclear Development

The Biden Administration has awarded funding for projects led by universities, private companies and natural laboratories to develop technologies to advance used nuclear fuel recycling, reduce the volume of high-level waste requiring permanent disposal, and provide safe domestic advanced reactor fuel stocks.  Similarly, in Congress there is bipartisan support for exploring the potential for fuel recycling to establish a domestic industry to supply and enrich uranium, to increase our energy independence and reduce our reliance on Russia.  But this is not the first time the U.S. has considered reprocessing and there have been multiple starts and stops for multiple reasons. How is the landscape different today? What is the potential for closing the fuel cycle in the U.S.?  What would the impact be for advanced nuclear development?  What is the timeline?

Join ECA as we consider these and other questions during our free webinar "Reprocessing and Recycling: The Outlook and Impact on New Nuclear Development" on Thursday, September 28, 2023, from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Eastern to learn more from experts Paul Murray and Josh Jarrell, Senior Technical Advisor to the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Nuclear Fuel Availability Program from the Idaho National Laboratories.

Please use this link to register. 

Reach out to Faith Sanchez, ECA Program Manager (faiths@energyca.org) with any questions. 

Use this link to watch the recording.

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The Importance of Power Purchase Agreements in an All of the Above Energy Strategy
Jun
27
1:00 PM13:00

The Importance of Power Purchase Agreements in an All of the Above Energy Strategy

Power purchase agreements play a key role in clean energy development, including new nuclear development. Federal agencies such as DOE, DOD and GSA can assist the emergence of new technologies such as advanced reactors and existing technologies such as wind, power and geothermal development by purchasing the power as the federal government is largest purchaser of power in the United States. A key for federal agencies includes the legal authority, the process and the political will to support these power purchases.

Join ECA's webinar on June 27 to hear from experts on how DOE and other federal agencies can assist advanced reactor and other clean energy development by purchasing power from these projects through utilities and the developers, the lessons learned from years of federal power purchase projects, and what ideas exist to for federal agencies to be the catalyst for energy development through power purchases.

Congressional Research Service (CRS) identified, “Federal agency agreements to purchase power from advanced reactors could substantially improve the financial feasibility of such projects, both at the demonstration and commercialization stages. Such power purchase agreements (PPAs) would provide a projected revenue stream that could help advanced reactor projects obtain financing and potentially reduce their financing costs. Federal agencies could also offer above-market prices for the power to encourage commercialization of nuclear technologies, if authorized by Congress.”

Speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. Zoom information will be provided before the event.

Please contact Dylan Kama, ECA Program Director, with any questions at dylank@energyca.org.

Additional resources about power purchase agreements:

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ECA Nuclear Development Forum: Building Capacity and Opportunity
May
17
to May 19

ECA Nuclear Development Forum: Building Capacity and Opportunity

ECA was pleased to host the second annual Nuclear Development Forum: Building Capacity and Opportunity, May 17-19, 2023, in Paducah, Kentucky.

Communities across the country are considering nuclear projects for many reasons - from diversifying regional economies, creating clean energy jobs or meeting carbon reduction goals, to increasing energy security and rebuilding the U.S. supply chain.  Some communities have a familiarity with nuclear energy projects, while others are just beginning to evaluate potential interest.  The ECA Forum is designed to bring communities, SMR and advanced nuclear project developers, federal and state governments together to enable shared learning and to build the partnerships necessary to address opportunities for new nuclear development.

ECA was excited to host this Forum is in coordination with the U.S. Department of Energy, the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy, the City of Paducah, McCracken County, the Paducah Area Community Reuse Organization, the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, and the American Nuclear Society.  As the host of an existing federal nuclear facility in a state considering adding nuclear to the energy mix, Paducah, Kentucky, is an ideal location to explore future nuclear development and opportunities to leverage and transition an energy workforce and existing infrastructure.

Special THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS!

WHO IS ATTENDING

The ECA Forum is open to communities, states, Tribes, local governments, industry, utilities, developers, experts, financiers, lawyers, state legislators, community groups, and economic development organizations working to build capacity and support for new nuclear development in the U.S.

MEETING GOALS

This meeting is the second in a series ECA is hosting as part of our New Nuclear Initiative to define the role of local governments and the partnerships necessary to develop priorities, policies, educational resources and outreach on new nuclear development.

The goals for this Forum include:

  • Providing a clearer timeline, economic outlook and educational resources for communities considering whether and how to support advanced nuclear energy projects.

  • Engaging communities on key issues such as siting, regulation, investment, workforce development, safety, and potential environmental and equity impacts of nuclear energy projects.

  • Sharing lessons learned from nuclear energy activities in the U.S. and abroad.

  • Matching potential host communities with nuclear energy developers, utilities and the right project.

AGENDA

Dr. Kathryn Huff, Assistant Secretary for DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy, was confirmed as the Forum's opening keynote speaker.

Agenda topics included:

  • Adding Nuclear to the Energy Mix

  • Understanding Resources Available for Evaluating Nuclear Development

  • Incorporating Reuse of Existing Facilities for New Nuclear Projects

  • Changing Perceptions of Nuclear

  • Co-location and Industrial Applications for Nuclear Energy

  • Developer Roundtable: The Elements Necessary to Build our Nuclear Economy

  • Lessons Learned: Developing Nuclear Facilities Abroad

In addition, on Wednesday, May 17, ECA will be offered an optional "Nuclear 101" for participants new to nuclear energy and an optional tour of DOE's Paducah Site (additional registration was required).  

TRAVEL & LODGING

The conference was held at the Paducah-McCracken Co. Convention Center (415 Park St, Paducah, KY 42001).

For information on travel to Paducah, KY, please click here.

There is no hotel block for the Forum. Hotels in the area include:

For any questions or comments, please contact Kara Colton, ECA Director of Nuclear Policy, at kara.colton@energyca.org or Sarah Templeton, ECA Program Manager, at saraht@energyca.org.

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Nov
29
to Dec 1

Twenty-first Annual Intergovernmental Meeting with the U.S. Department of Energy on Nuclear Weapons Waste Cleanup

  • Sheraton New Orleans Hotel (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The National Governors Association, on behalf of the Combined Intergovernmental Working Group, is hosting the Twenty-first Annual Intergovernmental Meeting with the U.S. Department of Energy on Nuclear Weapons Waste Cleanup on Wednesday, November 30 and Thursday, December 1, 2022. After a three-year hiatus, the meeting will be held in-person in New Orleans. ECA will have the opportunity to meet on Tuesday, November 29.

Please save the date. More details and the link to the meeting registration site will follow.

We look forward to seeing everyone in-person this fall!

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GAO Briefing on DOE's Environmental Management Program
Oct
20
12:00 PM12:00

GAO Briefing on DOE's Environmental Management Program

ECA will host a free, virtual briefing with Nathan Anderson, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, for the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

This year, GAO has released several reports about DOE's Environmental Management (EM) program. They include:

  • June 16: Improvements Needed to Measure Progress of Cleanup of Formerly Used Defense Sites

  • July 13: Enhanced Coordination, Prioritization, and Leadership Commitment Could Improve DOE Research and Development Efforts

  • July 27: DOE's Efforts to Manage Depleted Uranium Would Benefit from Clearer Legal Authorities

  • July 29: Hanford Site Cleanup Costs Continue to Rise, but Opportunities Exist to Save Tens of Billions of Dollars

  • September 28: Actions Needed to Determine Whether DOE's New Contracting Approach is Achieving Desired Results

  • September 29: DOE Needs to Improve Transparency in Planning for Disposal of Certain Low-Level Waste

Register today to hear GAO's insights about the findings and recommendations from these reports. A Zoom link will be provided to attendees prior to the event.

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ECA New Nuclear Initiative Virtual Event: The Investor Perspective on Advanced Nuclear Development
Oct
6
3:00 PM15:00

ECA New Nuclear Initiative Virtual Event: The Investor Perspective on Advanced Nuclear Development

As part of our New Nuclear Initiative, ECA invites you on Thursday, October 6, 2022 at 3:00 pm Eastern to continue a conversation with Jim Schaefer, Senior Managing Director at Guggenheim Securities, on the investor outlook for advanced nuclear development. Jim was a featured speaker this summer at the ECA Forum on New Nuclear Development in Salt Lake City, and will provide additional input in light of the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.

In addition to Jim, ECA is excited to host Steve Comello from the EFI Foundation, the 501c3 arm of the Energy Futures Initiative. EFI and the EFI Foundation - founded by former U.S. Energy Secretary Ernie Moniz - are organizations dedicated to harnessing the power of technology and policy innovation to accelerate the clean energy transition.

There is no cost to participate in the this event, however advance registration is required. A Zoom link will be sent prior to the event.

We look forward to a very timely, informative discussion with opportunities for questions and answers. If you have any questions or if ECA can be of any assistance, please contact Sarah Templeton, ECA Program Manager, at saraht@energyca.org or Kara Colton, ECA Director of Nuclear Policy, at kara.colton@energyca.org.

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Sep
21
to Sep 23

2022 National Cleanup Workshop

  • Crystal Gateway Marriott (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS


September 21-23, 2022

Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA

We are pleased to host the 2022 National Cleanup Workshop at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA! Join us to discuss a new era of cleanup success. Hear from senior DOE officials, local government officials, and industry leaders about DOE's cleanup priorities, the future of the workforce, and more.


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Aug
3
to Aug 5

ECA Forum: Hosting New Nuclear Development

  • Salt Lake City Marriott University Park (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

August 3-5, 2022

Please click here to access Forum presentations.

MEETING RECORDINGS COMING SOON.

The Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) is pleased to host The Energy Communities Forum on Hosting New Nuclear Development, August 3-5, 2022, at the Marriott University Park in Salt Lake City.

Please find the current agenda linked here.

As the country pursues an all-of-the-above energy strategy, energy independence and mitigation of climate change impacts, support for nuclear energy continues to grow.  ECA believes in the great potential for nuclear energy to deliver dependable baseload power alongside renewables, create jobs, rebuild the nuclear manufacturing supply chain, and power hybrid energy systems for industry as well as for space propulsion.  New and advanced nuclear technologies like small modular reactors, microreactors, fast-neutron reactors, and accident-tolerant fuels are being developed that promise to be smaller, simpler, safer and, importantly, economically competitive. 

For these “new nuclear” projects – many of them first-of-a-kind – to be commercially-viable and successfully deployed, each project must be integrated into its host community with alignment around key issues: siting, planning, workforce, financing, and marketing. Each project must be located where the community supports the mission and:

  • Required federal and private funding,

  • Regulatory assurance,

  • Demand for the electrons or heat being generated,

  • Availability of related goods and services, and

  • Partnerships at all levels of government.

Examples of how these partnerships drive success can be seen in communities around the country, specifically those that have long supported federal nuclear missions.  Already DOE frontline communities are engaging on new nuclear development across the DOE complex, including: the Kairos Powers’ Hermes reactor at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee; Centrus Energy’s HALEU Production Facility in Piketon, Ohio; the UAMPS NuScale SMR, the Department of Defense’s Project Pele and MARVEL microreactor at the Idaho National Laboratory; and the TRi Energy Partnership with X-energy in Richland, Washington.  Like many local leaders across the U.S., local governments around these sites are eager to support the new generation of nuclear technologies, realize the myriad benefits these projects bring, and see successful demonstrations become widespread commercial deployment.

To better understand how to match potential host community strengths and needs with those of advanced nuclear project developers, ECA’s Energy Communities Forum on Hosting New Nuclear Development will:

  • Provide a venue for nuclear technology and project developers to meet and interact with interested potential host communities, with exhibition booth spaces and separate, small meeting room availability.

  • Share lessons learned from communities and developers hosting nuclear power facilities or federal nuclear missions and outline what local government needs to understand and should consider as potential hosts for nuclear projects.

  • Facilitate discussions to better understand the outlook for new nuclear development and provide realistic timelines for local governments and economic development entities looking at siting, regulation, public-private partnerships and how to build support from the ground-up. 

The agenda will also feature five case studies on new nuclear development in Idaho; Richland, Washington; Kemmerer, Wyoming; Oak Ridge, Tennessee; and Portsmouth, Ohio with presentations by the teams – from the developer, utility, local government, and local economic development entities – on progress being made and the challenges that remain.

ECA looks forward to participation from the:

  • U.S. Department of Energy

  • National Reactor Innovation Center

  • Nuclear Energy Institute

  • Gateway for Innovation in Nuclear

  • Idaho National Laboratory

  • University of Michigan Fastest Path to Zero Initiative

  • U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

  • Nuclear Innovation Alliance

  • Good Energy Collective

  • Tribal governments and Tribal members and

  • Cities/counties around the country

    …. And many others

HOTEL INFORMATION

At this time, the Salt Lake City Marriott University Park is fully booked. Please see alternate hotel options below:

Salt Lake City Marriott City Center

220 South State Street Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

801-961-8700

3.6 miles from conference hotel

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/slccc-salt-lake-city-marriott-city-center/overview/

 —

Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City Creek

75 South West Temple Salt Lake City, Utah 84101

801-531-0800

4.5 miles from conference hotel

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/slcut-salt-lake-marriott-downtown-at-city-creek/overview/

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For questions, please contact Kara Colton, ECA Director of Nuclear Policy, at kara.colton@energyca.org or Sarah Templeton, ECA Program Manager, at saraht@energyca.org.

For any questions or inquiries regarding sponsorship opportunities, please contact Sarah Templeton, ECA Program Manager, at saraht@energyca.org

You can also learn more about ECA’s New Nuclear Initiative at www.energyca.org/new-nuclear

 

Thank You to our Supporters

Interested in Becoming a Supporter?

Please contact Sarah Templeton, ECA Program Manager, by email at saraht@energyca.org for more information on opportunities for supporting the ECA Forum.

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Feb
24
2:00 PM14:00

Federal Budget Briefing with ECA and DOE (Virtual)

PRESENTATIONS:

The Energy Communities Alliance will host a virtual federal budget and appropriations process briefing on Thursday, Feb. 24, from 2-3 pm Eastern (noon to 1 pm MT / 11 am to noon PT). With the President’s budget expected next month, new infrastructure spending, and FY 22 appropriations still in a continuing resolution, this meeting will help prepare you and your communities for what lies ahead for the federal budget and identify how the federal budget process works.

The meeting is free to attend.

We will be joined by Steve Trischman, Director of Budget and Planning in DOE’s Office of Environmental Management.

Additionally, we welcome you to invite others in your communities to this event.

For regular updates on the DOE Budget please visit our budget tracking page at http://www.energyca.org/budget-tracker.

Key 2022 Budget Dates:

March 11: The Continuing Resolution (CR) for FY 2022 - the current budget year - federal government funding expires.

March 7: The Federal FY 2023 Administration Budget Request would typically be due to Congress (and FY 2024 funding Senate and House hearings would begin) on February 7. However, this year's budget is expected to be at least one month late. As a reminder, the FY 2022 budget request was released in mid-May in 2021 and this budget request may be delayed if the CR is delayed again.

September 30: FY 2022 federal budget year ends.

November 8: Mid-term elections occur for all House seats, 34 of the 100 seats in the Senate, and 39 State and territorial governors.

If you have any questions, please contact ECA Program Director Dylan Kama at dylank@energyca.org

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National Cleanup Workshop 2021
Dec
7
to Dec 9

National Cleanup Workshop 2021

  • Hilton Alexandria Mark Center (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

DECEMBER 7 - 9, 2021
Hilton Alexandria Mark Center - Alexandria, VA

Join us at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center to discuss a new era of cleanup success.

View the agenda here.

Registration information is available here.

Hear from senior DOE officials, local government officials, and industry leaders about DOE's cleanup priorities, the future of the workforce, and more. If you have already registered for the Workshop prior to its postponement, you will not need to re-register. Further information about booking rooms at the Workshop hotel will be available in the coming weeks.

​We look forward to seeing you in December!

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May
4
12:00 PM12:00

“Engaging Energy Communities in Advanced Nuclear Demonstration Projects”

There is no fee to participate, but registration is required. Please click here for agenda and to register.   

Discussion will focus on the role for local governments as potential hosts for new nuclear demonstration projects.   

Keynote speakers include Ashley Finan, Director of the National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) and Christine King, Director, Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) Initiative.

 

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Feb
24
12:00 PM12:00

Defense High Level Waste: Path Forward in the New Administration

Join the Energy Communities Alliance for a webinar on nuclear waste solutions.

The webinar will include discussions on DOE cleanup priorities; how Congress plans to address nuclear waste; storage options; and what to expect in the incoming Biden administration.

12:00 – 12:30 PM - EM Overview of Defense High-Level Waste Program

  • Mark Gilbertson, Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regulatory and Policy Affairs

12:30 – 1:30 PM - ECA Community Priorities for the New Administration Related to HLW

  • Kara Colton, Director of Nuclear Policy, ECA

  • Bob Thompson, Councilmember, City of Richland, WA

  • Rebecca Casper, Mayor, City of Idaho Falls, ID

  • JJ Chavez, Councilmember, City of Carlsbad, NM

  • Rick McLeod, President/CEO, Savannah River Site Community Reuse Organization

1:30 – 2:30 PM - Prioritizing Cleanup: Defense Waste vs. Commercial Spent Fuel

  • David Klaus, Stanford University Center for International Security and Cooperation

  • Dr. Matt Bowen, Research Scholar, Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University/SIPA

2:30 – 3:30 PM - Interim, Permanent, and Alternative Solutions for Waste

  • Jim Hamilton, Founder and Executive Director, Nuclear Decommissioning Collaborative

  • Mary Louise Wagner, Consultant

  • Tim Smith, President, Governmental Strategies, Inc.

DOWNLOAD AGENDA

Presentations:

Please contact ECA Program Director Dylan Kama at dylank@energyca.org with any questions.

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Jan
25
12:00 PM12:00

ECA Advancing Alliances: Building Nuclear Workforce Development Initiatives in Communities

This webinar is the third in a series focused on outlining workforce development challenges across the DOE complex, what the current needs are, how best to prepare a workforce for the future, and how to apply lessons learned from successful workforce initiatives around the sites. This discussion will focus on how to work with DOE on existing and new workforce development goals, identifying the needs of small businesses engaged in environmental management missions, and feature a case study of how communities and contractors are successfully addressing workforce development in Oak Ridge, TN. 

The agenda can be found here.

Meeting details can be found on the event page here. Registration is free.

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Dec
16
12:00 PM12:00

Building the Nuclear Energy Future

This webinar is the first under ECA’s New Nuclear Initiative focused on defining the role of local governments in supporting the development of the new nuclear technologies. This self-funded initiative aims to help our members– nuclear-friendly communities – better understand how/where they can use and build their unique experiences and resources (i.e., skilled workforce, relationships with DOE, community colleges and contractors) to support DOE’s environmental cleanup while, in parallel, pursue future economic development opportunities.

ECA’s initiative seeks to answer three primary questions:

  • What do communities need to know to attract and support new nuclear development/missions?

  • What and how should communities communicate to industry, national laboratories, state and federal governments about local resources and development opportunities?

  • What hurdles and challenges will communities face and who can we work with to overcome them?

ECA is especially excited to welcome as our keynote speaker Jim Conca, journalist and Chief Technical Officer for UFA Ventures, Inc.

The final agenda can be viewed here.

Registration is free. Please visit this page to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/building-the-nuclear-energy-future-tickets-131466980277

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ECA and ECOS: Post-Election Insights
Nov
12
1:00 PM13:00

ECA and ECOS: Post-Election Insights

On November 12, the Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) and Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) will host a webinar with post-election insights from experts.

How will the election impact DOE issues in 2021? What can we expect in future budgets and potential stimulus legislation? What is the outlook for state and local governments post-2020? Join the webinar to hear from our panel of Washington insiders!

Featuring:

  • Jaime Shimek, Clerk, House Appropriations Committee

  • Marty Schneider, Senior Vice President, Longenecker & Associates

  • Tim Peckinpaugh, Partner, K&L Gates

  • Ben Husch, National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)

  • Bob DeGrasse, Vice President and Manager of Government Affairs, Bechtel

  • Colin Jones, Vice President and General Manager for North American Nuclear, Jacobs

  • Seth Kirshenberg (Co-moderator), Executive Director, ECA

  • Carolyn Hanson (Co-moderator), Deputy Executive Director, ECOS

The agenda is available here.

REGISTER FOR FREE HERE.

Please contact ECA Program Director Dylan Kama at (202) 828-2465 or dylank@energyca.org with any questions.

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ECA Advancing Alliances: STEM and Workforce
Oct
29
12:00 PM12:00

ECA Advancing Alliances: STEM and Workforce

ECA will address STEM initiatives as they related to workforce development and training across the nuclear complex.

ECA welcomes Dr. Rita Baranwal, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Nuclear Energy in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) as the opening keynote speaker.

Please view the most recent agenda here.

Registration is free.

Registration and more information can be found here.

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2020 National Cleanup Workshop
Sep
16
12:00 PM12:00

2020 National Cleanup Workshop

The Energy Communities Alliance (ECA), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) and the Energy Facility Contractors Group, is pleased to announce the 6th annual National Cleanup Workshop, to be held virtually on September 16, 2020.

The Workshop will bring together senior DOE executives and site officials, industry executives, and other stakeholders to discuss EM's progress on the cleanup of the environmental legacy of the nation's Manhattan Project and Cold War nuclear weapons program.

Please contact ECA Program Director Dylan Kama at dylank@energyca.org with any questions.

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ECA Webinar: Workforce Development
Jul
30
12:00 PM12:00

ECA Webinar: Workforce Development

ECA is hosting a series of webinars to facilitate education and discussion on key issues. The first in the series will focus on outlining workforce development challenges across the complex, what the current needs are, how best to prepare a workforce for the future, and how to apply lessons learned from successful workforce initiatives around the sites.

A draft agenda can be found here.

A website with meeting details and registration can be found here. Registration for this event is free.

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ECA Annual Meeting – Looking Towards 2020
Jan
30
to Jan 31

ECA Annual Meeting – Looking Towards 2020

  • Liaison Washington Capitol Hill (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

ECA will host an annual meeting at the Liaison Washington Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

Sessions during this two-day meeting will focus on DOE Offices of Environmental Management, Nuclear Energy, and the National Nuclear Security Administration. Meeting attendees will have the unique opportunity to hear from DOE officials, key Members of Congress and Congressional staff, and other DC insiders.

2020 ECA Annual Conference Agenda
Space is limited and will fill quickly – register here today!

Hotel Information
ECA has reserved a limited room block at the rate of $184.00 per night. This rate is available until Friday, January 3, 2020 or until the block is full. We encourage you to book your room as soon as possible. To make your reservation, please call the hotel directly at 1-888-214-7555 and mention the code "ECA2020." You may also make your reservations online here.

Registration Fees
$425 for ECA members/government
$525 for private sector

Hotel Information
Liaison Washington Capitol Hill
415 New Jersey Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Contact ECA Program Manager MacKenzie Kerr at (202) 828-2410 or MacKenzieK@energyca.org.

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2019 Intergovernmental Meeting with DOE
Nov
19
to Nov 21

2019 Intergovernmental Meeting with DOE

  • Loews Vanderbilt Hotel (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The Energy Communities Alliance (ECA), the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS), the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), the National Governors Association's Federal Facilities Task Force (NGA FFTF), the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), and the State and Tribal Government Working Group (STGWG), will come together for the 2019 Intergovernmental Meeting with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in Nashville, TN from November 19-21, 2019. 

This meeting provides opportunities for increased communication and coordination with DOE and among states, Tribes, and local communities affected by the ongoing cleanup of the nation's nuclear weapons complex. 

This event is by invitation only.

REGISTER HERE.

For questions about this event, contact ECA Program Manager MacKenzie Kerr at mackenziek@energyca.org.

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ECA Board of Directors Meeting
Nov
19
9:00 AM09:00

ECA Board of Directors Meeting

In conjunction with the 2019 Intergovernmental Meeting with the Department of Energy (DOE), Members of the ECA Board of Directors are invited to participate in a Board Meeting in order to review ECA activities and operations, and discuss local government/member priorities and site-specific concerns. Members may expect to hear from DOE’s Office of Environmental Management.

This event is by invitation only. Registration information and a preliminary agenda will be shared with ECA members in advance.

For questions about this event, contact ECA Program Manager MacKenzie Kerr at mackenziek@energyca.org.

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