join us for The 3RD Annual
hosted by Palmetto Nuclear Coalition
We are excited to announce the 3rd Annual SC Nuclear Summit, a cornerstone event in our state’s journey toward becoming the national leader in advanced nuclear energy.
Hosted by the Palmetto Nuclear Coalition with support from The University of South Carolina’s Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing and Santee Cooper, we proudly welcome leaders from across the nation.
Get your tickets
Tickets are now on sale starting at $150 per seat.
Become a sponsor
Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Reach out directly to info@palmettonuclear.org.
Save the Date // Sept 28-29, 2026
This event marks a pivotal moment in South Carolina’s energy future, bringing together industry, government, academia, and business leaders to advance the state's growing role in nuclear innovation and economic development.
This year’s event will kick off with a Welcome Reception on the evening of September 28, providing guests with an opportunity to network and connect with one another prior to the start of the main event on September 29.
Why you should be there.
Celebrate South Carolina
Recognized as the nation’s proving ground for advanced nuclear energy, South Carolina is home to the V.C. Summer site, the Westinghouse Fuel Fabrication Facility, the Savannah River Site, Savannah River National Laboratory, and military assets.
Together, these assets form the backbone of America’s nuclear supply chain and defense capability, positioning the state to lead implementation of the President’s Executive Order calling for ten new AP1000 reactors nationwide.
Network with Leaders
Engage directly with utilities, off-takers, industry executives, academic experts, and policymakers from both state and federal levels — including partners driving nuclear deployment, technology innovation, and national energy strategy.
Drive Innovation
Help shape the partnerships, policy, and investment frameworks that will define America’s next era of energy dominance, strengthen national security, and expand the global competitiveness of the U.S. industrial base.
Speakers, Presenters, & Panelists
Federal Leadership
James P. Danly — U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy
Tim Walsh — Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy
Alex Fitzsimmons — Associate Deputy Secretary of Energy & Senior Advisor to the Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy
Julie Kozeracki — Chief Investment Officer (Acting), U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Dominance Financing
Congressman Russell Fry — South Carolina's Seventh Congressional District
South Carolina Leadership
Governor Henry McMaster
The Honorable G. Murrell Smith Jr. — Speaker, South Carolina House of Representatives
Daniel Rickenmann — Mayor, City of Columbia
Corporate Leadership
Todd Abrajano — President & CEO, United States Nuclear Industry Council
Robbie Bennett — President & CEO, SRS Community Reuse Organization
Boyd Blanchard — President & CEO, Blanchard Machinery Company
Harrison Boyd — Manager of Nuclear Projects, Amentum
Ethel Bunch — Founder & President, Palmetto Nuclear Coalition
Bill Currens — Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning, Carolinas, Duke Energy
Marcus Enns — Managing Director, Brookfield’s Energy Group
Mike Finnissi — Deputy Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer, Santee Cooper
Matt Grffin — Head of Nuclear Affairs, Antares
Maria Korsnick — President & CEO, Nuclear Energy Institute
Joe Klecha — Chief Nuclear Officer, The Nuclear Company
Matt MacVicar — Vice President, SMR Strategy & Business Development, Rolls-Royce
Sam Meyers — Senior Vice President, Brookfield Asset Management
Alex Molinaroli — Former Chairman & CEO, Johnson Controls
Darla Moore — Investor, Philanthropist & Former Wall Street Executive
Rounette Nader — Vice President, New Nuclear Generation and License Renewal, Duke Energy
Luca Oriani — President, APX, Westinghouse Electric Company
Cristina Long Paredes — Executive Director, SC Nexus
Clay Rikard — Senior Vice President, System Planning, Southern Company
Adrienne Schweer — Head of Government Affairs, Oklo
Jimmy Staton, President & CEO, Santee Cooper
Greg Thompson — CEO, Thompson Construction
Amy Tinsley — Vice President of Manufacturing Councils & Secretary of the Board, South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce
Natalie Wane — Manager of Global Workforce Services & Principal Vice President, Bechtel
Jeff Uphues — CEO, DC BLOX
Educational Leadership
Michael D. Amiridis — President, University of South Carolina
Hossein Haj-Hariri — Dean, USC Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing
Tim Hardee — President, South Carolina Technical College System
EVENT Agenda
Monday, September 28
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. | Welcome Reception
The Lantern Hotel
1001 Senate Street, Columbia, SC 29201
• Cocktails & hors d'oeuvres
• Network with Summit attendees, speakers, and industry leaders
Tuesday, September 29
3rd Annual South Carolina Nuclear Summit
7:30–8:30 a.m. | Registration & Check-In
Thompson Construction Breakfast
8:30 a.m. | Welcome & Opening Remarks
Greg Thompson — CEO, Thompson Construction
8:40 a.m. | Keynote Remarks
Building America’s Nuclear Workforce: Federal Investment to Support the Next Generation of Nuclear Deployment
Introduction
Keynote:
James P. Danly — U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy
Special Signing Ceremony
Opening Remarks:
Ethel Bunch — Founder & President, Palmetto Nuclear Coalition
9:00 a.m. | National Investment & Leadership Forum
The Nuclear Capital: Building America’s Next Industrial Powerhouse in South Carolina
Remarks and Introduction of Panel:
Michael D. Amiridis — President, University of South Carolina
Moderator:
Ethel Bunch — Founder & President, Palmetto Nuclear Coalition
Panelists:
Darla Moore — Investor, Philanthropist & Former Wall Street Executive
Alex Molinaroli — Former Chairman & CEO, Johnson Controls
The Honorable G. Murrell Smith Jr. — Speaker, South Carolina House of Representatives
10:00 a.m. | Building America’s Nuclear Workforce
Moderator:
Rounette Nader — Vice President, New Nuclear Generation and License Renewal, Duke Energy
Panelists:
Luca Oriani — President, APX, Westinghouse Electric Company
Natalie Wane — Manager of Global Workforce Services & Principal Vice President, Bechtel
Daniel Rickenmann — Mayor, City of Columbia
Tim Hardee — President, South Carolina Technical College System
Hossein Haj-Hariri — Dean, USC Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing
10:45 a.m. | Break
11:00 a.m. | Governor’s Remarks
Introduction:
Ethel Bunch — Founder & President, Palmetto Nuclear Coalition
Special Remarks:
Governor Henry McMaster
11:20 a.m. | Special Remarks
Tim Walsh — Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy
11:30 a.m. | National Security & Deployment Forum
New Missions, Same Ground: How Federal Land Is Becoming the Platform for Advanced Nuclear and AI Infrastructure
Moderator:
Robbie Bennett — President & CEO, SRS Community Reuse Organization
Panelists:
Tim Walsh — Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy
Harrison Boyd — Manager of Nuclear Projects, Amentum
Jeff Uphues — CEO, DC BLOX
Matt Griffin — Head of Nuclear Affairs, Antares
Representative — Nucleo
Adrienne Schweer — Head of Government Affairs, Oklo
12:30 p.m. | Blanchard Machinery Leadership Lunch
Welcome & Remarks:
Boyd Blanchard — President & CEO, Blanchard Machinery Company
12:45 p.m. | National Nuclear Strategy Forum
South Carolina’s Nuclear Moment: From State Leadership to National Strategy
Moderator:
Todd Abrajano — President & CEO, United States Nuclear Industry Council
Participants:
Alex Fitzsimmons — Associate Deputy Secretary of Energy & Senior Advisor to the Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy
Congressman Russell Fry — U.S. Representative, South Carolina’s Seventh Congressional District
1:25 p.m. | break
1:45 p.m. | National Capital Forum
Financing America’s Nuclear Future: Making Nuclear Bankable
A high-level discussion on the financial structures, federal tools, utility economics, risk allocation, and repeatable deployment models needed to attract private capital and accelerate nuclear deployment at scale.
Moderator:
Maria Korsnick — President & CEO, Nuclear Energy Institute
Panelists:
Julie Kozeracki — Chief Investment Officer (Acting), U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Dominance Financing
Marcus Enns — Managing Director, Brookfield’s Energy Group
Bill Currens — Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning, Carolinas, Duke Energy
Clay Rikard — Senior Vice President, System Planning, Southern Company
2:30 p.m. | Fireside Chat
From Innovation to Industry: Building Nuclear in South Carolina
Matt MacVicar — Vice President, SMR Strategy & Business Development, Rolls-Royce
Cristina Long Paredes — Executive Director, SC Nexus
3:00 p.m. | EXPLORE. CONNECT. DISCOVER.
Exhibition & Networking
Visit exhibitors, connect with industry leaders, and continue the conversation.
3:30 p.m. | Fairfield Deployment Forum
Fairfield Project: America’s Most Advanced Nuclear Site
Remarks
Jimmy Staton — President & CEO, Santee Cooper
Moderator:
Amy Tinsley — Vice President of Manufacturing Councils & Secretary of the Board,South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce
Panelists:
Mike Finnissi — Deputy Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer, Santee Cooper
Sam Meyers — Senior Vice President, Brookfield Asset Management
Luca Oriani — President, APX, Westinghouse Electric Company
Joe Klecha — Chief Nuclear Officer, The Nuclear Company
4:30 p.m. | Summit Adjourns
2026 Sponsors
Supported By
Premier Sponsors
Breakfast Sponsor
Lunch Sponsor
Lanyard Sponsor
Palmetto Sponsor
Garnett and Black Sponsors
Exhibition Booth Sponsors
ARC Services
Maynard Nexsen
Pureflow Inc.
Carolina Fabricators, Inc.
Globalpundits, Inc.
Newcleo
Become a Sponsor
This year’s Summit will highlight the Fairfield project, a catalyst for the next generation of American nuclear deployment and the emerging “10-pack” fleet strategy gaining momentum nationwide. The event will also feature the University of South Carolina’s Nuclear Innovation Center, poised to become the premier facility of its kind in the country, while continuing critical conversations around advanced reactors, fuel cycle, artificial intelligence, national security, workforce development, and supply chain expansion. As the fastest-growing engineering school in the nation, the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing is setting a new benchmark for talent development, applied innovation, and supply chain readiness, helping position South Carolina at the forefront of nuclear advancement.
Building on the momentum of last year’s Summit, which welcomed more than 450 attendees, this year’s gathering will convene an influential mix of federal and state officials, private industry leaders, academic innovators, and energy experts—all united in strengthening South Carolina’s role as a national leader in nuclear energy, workforce development, and economic competitiveness.
SPONSORSHIPS
Presenting Sponsor — $50,000 (reserved)
Exclusive recognition as a Presenting Sponsor across all Summit materials, including invitations, website, event signage, program materials, and on-screen presentations.
Featured speaking opportunity, including participation in a fireside chat, panel discussion, or formal event introduction.
Premium brand visibility with exclusive logo placement at registration, on main stage presentation backdrops, and throughout the venue.
Complimentary exhibitor booth in a premier location.
One reserved table with eight (8) complimentary Summit registrations.
Premier Sponsor — $35,000 (reserved)
Prominent recognition as a Platinum Sponsor across all Summit materials, including invitations, website, event signage, program, and presentations.
Featured speaking opportunity, including participation in a fireside chat, panel discussion, or formal introduction.
High-visibility branding with premium logo placement at registration, on main stage presentation backdrops, and throughout venue signage.
Complimentary exhibitor booth in a prime location.
One reserved table with eight (8) complimentary Summit registrations.
Welcome Reception Sponsor — $35,000
Opportunity to provide welcome remarks during the Welcome Reception on September 28, attended by Summit participants and industry leaders.
Prominent recognition as a sponsor of the South Carolina Nuclear Summit Welcome Reception.
Opportunity to participate in Summit panels and curated programming discussions.
Sponsor recognition included in all Summit collateral materials, marketing, and on-site signage.
Complimentary exhibit booth at the Summit.
Reserved sponsor table with eight (8) complimentary Summit tickets.
Networking Breakfast Sponsor — $20,000 (reserved)
Opportunity to feature branded materials or promotional giveaways during the networking breakfast.
Prominent recognition across all Summit collateral and event signage.
Complimentary exhibitor booth.
Five (5) complimentary Summit registrations.
Lunch Sponsor — $25,000 (reserved)
Opportunity to introduce the lunch program.
Opportunity to feature branded materials or promotional giveaways during lunch.
Prominent recognition across all Summit collateral and event signage.
Complimentary exhibitor booth.
Five (5) complimentary Summit registrations.
Lanyard Sponsor — $15,000 (reserved)
Exclusive logo placement on attendee lanyards.
Prominent recognition across all Summit collateral and event signage.
Complimentary exhibitor booth.
Four (4) complimentary Summit registrations.
Palmetto Sponsor — $10,000
Recognition in all Summit materials, including invitations, website, program, and presentation decks.
Verbal acknowledgment from the podium during program transitions.
Complimentary exhibitor booth.
Four (4) complimentary Summit registrations.
Garnett and Black Sponsor — $5,000
Recognition in all Summit materials, including invitations, website, program, and presentation decks.
Verbal acknowledgment from the podium during program transitions.
Complimentary exhibitor booth.
Two (2) complimentary Summit registrations.
Booth for Exhibit — $2,500
One (1) exhibit booth during the Summit expo.
Become a sponsor
Reach out directly to info@palmettonuclear.org for current opportunities.
Places to stay
0.7 miles from Colonial Life Arena
0.5 miles from Colonial Life Arena
0.7 miles from Colonial Life Arena
0.8 miles from Colonial Life Arena
Highlights from our 2nd annual SC Nuclear Summit
