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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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August 2026
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Center for Used Fuel Research: Building confidence in storage and transport
Used nuclear fuel storage and transportation have reached a critical juncture.
Dozens of utilities need reliable data on how used nuclear fuel performs in dry storage casks and canisters to extend regulatory licenses at sites across the United States. Likewise, the Department of Energy expects to take ownership of the used nuclear fuel—termed “spent nuclear fuel” in the laws and regulations governing its stewardship—and transfer it to one or more federal staging facilities for management and disposition.
Meanwhile, dozens of reactor companies are testing prototypes of advanced reactors and advanced reactor fuels. Eventually, regulators and industry must also verify the safety and security of storage methods for these advanced fuel types.
To help address these challenges, the DOE established the Center for Used Fuel Research (CUFR) in January 2026 for work related to the long-term storage and transport of used nuclear fuel.
General Chairs:
Kostas Dovas (Exelon Generation)
Kostadin Ivanov (North Carolina State Univ.)
Technical Program Co-Chairs:
Christopher McClain (Dominion Energy)
Drew Thomas (Idaho National Laboratory)
Scribe:
Michael Marler (Marler Consulting)
Program Committee Co-Chairs:
Pat Berry (Patrick Berry Consulting, LLC)
Chuck Lease
Review Committee Chair:
Russ Coon (Exelon, retired)
Sponsorship Co-Chairs:
David Helling (Westinghouse)
Dan Randolph (X-energy)
Marketing/Social Media Chair:
Billy Wilson (OPG)
Committee Members:
Douglas Batche (Exelon)
Oum Keltoum Bouhelal (Higher National School Mines)
Lori Brady (Nuclear Energy Institute)
Susana del Alamo (Tecnatom)
Kenny Christian (INPO/NANT)
Juan Cortez (Callaway, Ameren)
Thomas Dean (Exelon Generation)
Lisa Edwards (EPRI)
Charlotte Hendrix (INL)
Gerry Hildebrandt (STPEGS)
Lois Jordan (INPO)
Bei Liu (Excelsior College)
Michael Johnson
Al Lowe (Southern Nuclear)
Lisa Marshall (North Carolina State University)
Jason Overstreet (Southern Nuclear)
Analiese Piraino (FENOC)
Brandon Starnes
Pam Terry (Westinghouse)
Jason Valtos (TVA)
Jeffrey Walton (TVA)
Ray Dean
Larry Lucas
Bert Barnes
Others:
Dan Carleton (Terrestrial USA)
Kathryn Hallman (EPRI)
John Hunsicker (Entergy)
Gregg Ludlam
Dan Roy (Accelerant Solutions)
Gregory Ruppert
