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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.
December 7, 2022|12:00–1:00PM (1:00–2:00PM EST)
ANS Members Only
ANS Members, please log in to watch this webinar.
In this special event, ANS Executive Director/CEO Craig Piercy conducted a one-on-one interview with Jigar Shah, Director of the DOE’s Loan Programs Office (LPO).
Shah detailed the Biden administration's ambitious goals to decarbonize the power sector by 2035, which were highlighted in Shah’s article in the November issue of Nuclear News. He also discussed how nuclear can be an important part of the decarbonized energy mix in the U.S. and how he believes the LPO can support the administration’s target.
About Jigar ShahJigar Shah was most recently co-founder and President at Generate Capital, where he focused on helping entrepreneurs accelerate decarbonization solutions through the use of low-cost infrastructure-as-a service financing. Prior to Generate Capital, Shah founded SunEdison, a company that pioneered “pay as you save” solar financing. After SunEdison, Shah served as the founding CEO of the Carbon War Room, a global non-profit founded by Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Unite to help entrepreneurs address climate change. Originally from Illinois, Shah holds a B.S. from the University of Illinois-UC and an MBA from the University of Maryland College Park.
