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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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NN Asks: Is the U.S. ready for nuclear construction to accelerate?
Craig Stover
Yes, but . . .
The United States is better positioned today for nuclear construction than it has been in decades. Some of that comes from the experience gained at Vogtle and V.C. Summer. I was part of the team that helped start the V.C. Summer project in 2008, and at that time we were trying to build a nuclear construction workforce from scratch. We learned a lot through that effort, and many of those lessons learned have since been studied, documented, and shared.
The nuclear industry is also benefiting from the wave of investment that started growing around 2020. Over the last five or six years, there has been a serious effort across the country to get ready for new nuclear builds. The U.S. government and the private sector are investing billions of dollars in new nuclear. Much of that work is happening before widespread commercial deployment contracts are signed. This is real, and we need to prepare.
Technical Session|Panel|Panels
Saturday, April 6, 2024|1:35–2:55PM EDT|Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub Room 603
Session Chair:
Kourosh S. Sadr (Penn State University)
Session Organizer:
Jonathan B. Balog (Penn State University)
Microreactors are compact, transportable nuclear reactors with power outputs ranging from a few kilowatts to a few megawatts. They cater to diverse applications, including remote locations, military operations, and industrial processes. Microreactors are poised to play a significant role in providing reliable, low-carbon power solutions by offering enhanced safety features, simplified designs, and reduced operational costs. Their potential integration with renewable energy sources can contribute to grid stability and decarbonization efforts. Join our panelists as they discuss the technology behind these reactors and the economic niches they are looking to fill!
Anthony Schoedel
Westinghouse Electric Co.
John Liechty
Penn State University - Smeal College of Business
Jess Gehin
Associate Lab Director, Nuclear Science and Technology, Idaho National Laboratory
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Attachment — Microreactors Bios