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Conference Spotlight
2026 Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
August 24–27, 2026
Dallas, TX|Hilton Anatole
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The human factor in licensing and operating the next generation of nuclear plants
As human factors specialists working at the intersection of human performance and nuclear operations, we are witnessing one of the nuclear sector’s most significant transitions in decades. The emergence of small modular reactors, microreactors, and other advanced designs is reshaping the industry’s landscape. Digital instrumentation and controls, passive safety systems, and increased automation are creating opportunities for greater safety margins and more flexible operation. These same features also fundamentally redefine what it means to “operate” a nuclear plant. Interactions among human roles, automation, and passive systems shape how people maintain awareness, exercise judgment, and intervene when necessary. These developments affect both operational realities and the regulatory foundations on which nuclear safety is built.
Educational Session|Panel|Supply Chain Challenges & Opportunities
Tuesday, August 9, 2022|3:30–5:00PM EDT|Banyan 1
Track Organizer:
Bill Fry (Duke Energy)
Knowledge Manager:
Nathan Choplin (Duke Energy)
The supplier of a product has a better handle on the costs associated with supplying their products than do the consumers of that product. And yet industry cost saving initiatives nearly always stem from the utilities and often with no supplier input. Suppliers want to maximize profits, but also need the utilities to remain healthy and competitive. The solution to this is better two-way communication between utilities and suppliers. One aspect of this includes initiatives launched by INPO and EPRI that often do not reach the majority of the supplier community because of membership rules.
This session will explore how industry initiatives can be better communicated to the supplier community, better communication in general between utilities and suppliers, and the possible formation of a formal Nuclear Supply Chain group to facilitate better communication. This potential new group might be a separate organization or an adjunct to the existing NSCSL organization and support INPO IER 21-4 initiatives.
Jim Ripple
Southern Nuclear
Bill Fry
Duke Energy
Greg Keller
Curtiss-Wright
Craig Irish
Westinghouse
Jim Cootes
BHI, a Westinghouse company
Paul Saksvig
Dominion
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Session Notes