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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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Oklo signs MOU with Standard Nuclear to explore plutonium recycling
Oklo announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Standard Nuclear to explore commercial collaboration on nuclear fuel recycling and advanced fuel manufacturing. According to Oklo, the collaboration with TRISO fuel fabricator Standard Nuclear represents the company’s first third-party offtake pathway for recycled nuclear materials, including surplus U.S. plutonium.
Educational Session|Panel|Sponsored by Cost Reduction Opportunities
Tuesday, August 10, 2021|10:30AM–5:00PM EDT |Calusa 8-9
Track Organizers:
Ray Herb (Southern Company)
Ken Lowery (Southern Company)
Tim Schlimpert (MCR Group)
Maria Hernandez (Duke Energy)
Knowledge Manager:
Saieed Ahmed (Exelon)
Student Intern:
Edward Chen (NC State Univ.)
The utility industry is undergoing dramatic changes as low fuel costs and new technologies, such as solar and batteries, threaten to disrupt the traditional utility generation model; potentially having dramatic impacts on revenues. For nuclear, subsidized renewables and cheap natural gas are formidable low-cost energy competitors in a reduced electricity demand environment. At the same time, costs are increasing as workforces and assets age, interest rates rise, and customer expectations drive the need to support new channels for information and transactions. Combined, these trends are placing significant pressure on earnings. Macro trends will continue to drive business priorities, but enterprise-wide control of cost allows utilities to determine their own destinies. These Cost Optimization sessions will analyze the past 6 years of cost and staffing trends. We will identify key circumstances representing improvements and hear from utilities which have successfully implemented cost saving initiatives. We will discuss measures utilities have already taken, or plan to implement, with an eye on cost reductions. With the premature shutdown of nuclear power plants a reality, reducing cost while maintaining safety and reliability is of utmost importance.
Maria Hernandez
Duke Energy
Andrey Mushakov
Lightbridge
Jeff Norrell
Westinghouse
Dylan Robideaux
MCR
Fred Smith
EPRI
Skip Young
USNRC Branch Chief-Ret
Mark Campagna
Captain USN (Ret) - Moderator
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Session Notes