A four-part educational and planning workshop series for Governors’ advisors and state leaders to provide key nuclear energy policy and technical background, and facilitate state action planning on nuclear energy through peer exchange.
The NGA Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) Energy program and U.S. Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy are hosting a series of four workshops for Governors’ advisors and state energy policymakers to provide foundational knowledge about nuclear innovations and advancements, policies, and roles in meeting various state energy goals. Each workshop includes extended breakout discussions for states to strategize with their state peers on potential nuclear energy policy solutions appropriate to address their own priorities.
Each workshop explores a different aspect of nuclear opportunities, policy options for sustaining and deploying nuclear generation, and lessons learned.
- The Role of Nuclear
- Advances in Nuclear and Future Uses
- Leveraging Nuclear to Serve the Community: Economics, Jobs, Stakeholder Engagement
- Utah State Case Study Session
States participating in each 1.5 workshop engage subject matter experts on topic background and associated policy considerations. Attendees also participate in brainstorming sessions to outline policy opportunities to leverage nuclear in support of their own state goals.
Workshop Products
Through their participation in these workshops state participants received:
- Key takeaways and video recordings of workshop presentations
- Relevant research products and tools produced by NGA Center staff, NGA Partners, and other organizations
- Follow-up technical assistance and research from NGA Center staff as the state expands and implements its policy strategies
Workshop Schedule
- Wednesday, October 27, 2021 | The Role of Nuclear
- Wednesday, November 10, 2021 | Advances in Nuclear and Future Uses
- Week of December 6 | Leveraging Nuclear to Serve the Community: Economics, Jobs, Stakeholder Engagement
- Wednesday, January 12, 2022 | Utah State Case Study Session
Workshops
The Role of Nuclear
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
This Learning Collaborative briefed state energy policymakers on key nuclear generation technology and policy developments to help them understand the role that nuclear generation can play in achieving state and U.S. decarbonization goals. Participants discussed the results of recent analyses on how to meet state energy goals and the position of nuclear. The first half of this virtual session featured background for policymakers from nuclear experts and the discussion-oriented second half consisted of small group discussions and brainstorming sessions among state energy policymakers.
Specific questions addressed include:
- Can states get to 100% carbon free electricity in the next few decades without nuclear generation? What do current studies show?
- Can states realize their 100% decarbonization goals solely with renewables and storage? What do current studies show regarding this topic?
- What are biggest hurdles(regulatory,policy,etc.) to sustaining nuclear generation or deploying new generation?
- How should energy policymakers be preparing to meet ambitious state energy goals? What regulatory and policy solutions need to be in place in the near-term and what provisions are important for nuclear power?
Speakers
- Christine King, Director, Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) | Presentation Slides
- Dr. Melissa Lott, Director of Research, Columbia University Center of Global Energy Policy | Presentation Slides
Presentations
Advances in Nuclear and Future Uses
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
In this second workshop in the Learning Collaborative series state energy policymakers and nuclear industry experts discussed advances in nuclear energy technology and deployment; potential applications for these technologies such as industrial processes, coal-to-nuclear, and hydrogen; and state policy options to support nuclear innovation and generation. These discussions helped states understand the evolving landscape of advanced nuclear energy technologies and consider policy options to support advanced reactor commercial development.
Questions discussed included:
- How have nuclear energy technologies and their potential applications evolved, and how can states support the use of these technologies?
- What are some of the benefits of advanced nuclear technologies the industry is exploring today?
- What is the cost outlook and production timeline for new nuclear deployments and different industrial and fuel applications?
- How can states incorporate future-looking advanced nuclear into their modeling and energy planning?
Speakers
- Ashley Finan, Director, National Reactor Innovation Center at Idaho National Laboratory |Presentation
- Marilyn C. Kray, Vice President, Nuclear Strategy & Development, Exelon Corporation | Presentation
- Adam DeMella, Global Government Affairs Leader, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
- Carol Lane, Head of Government Affairs, X-Energy | Presentation
Presentations
Please contact Jessica Rackley or Timothy Schoonhoven with any questions or for more information.
NGA would like to thank the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy for their support of this series.
