The National Academy of Sciences held a two-day conference at their beautiful art deco building on the National Mall on January 29-30, 2025. The centerpiece was the recent completion of the 4-unit Plant Vogtle by Southern Company in Georgia. It was packed, there was an overflow room, and they gathered quite an impressive mix of panelists from many stakeholders - finance, workforce, local communities, reactor designers, regulators, industry groups, and more.

The highlights

1. Long Licensing timelines are a complex issue but Reform is Possible

2. The U.S. Needs Domestic AND Foreign Nuclear Sales to Justify a Domestic Supply Chain

3. SMRs May Not Be the Right Solution—Stick to Proven Designs?

4. Project Management is the “Secret Sauce” to Success

5. The Private Sector (Not Utilities) is Now the Market for New Nuclear