Nuclear Summit

Thank you for attending The 3RD Annual

hosted by Palmetto Nuclear Coalition

A Landmark Year for South Carolina’s Nuclear Future

The 3rd Annual South Carolina Nuclear Summit brought together more than 600 leaders from across the nuclear industry, government, higher education, utilities, workforce development and economic development at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia. The Summit created a national platform for conversations about South Carolina’s role in the next era of nuclear energy—and the opportunities ahead to expand reliable energy generation, strengthen the nuclear workforce and attract new investment to the state.

The Summit featured senior leaders from South Carolina and the federal government, including Governor Henry McMaster, U.S. Representative Russell Fry, South Carolina House Speaker Murrell Smith, and leaders from the U.S. Department of Energy. A defining moment of the Summit was the announcement of a new partnership between Westinghouse and the University of South Carolina to develop a nuclear workforce training center designed to prepare workers across disciplines for the next generation of nuclear development. The announcement underscored the importance of workforce readiness, innovation and collaboration as South Carolina positions itself for continued growth in nuclear energy.

The Summit’s reach extended well beyond the room, generating approximately 100 media mentions across television, radio and local and national news outlets. From Columbia to Charleston, Greenville, Myrtle Beach and beyond, coverage highlighted South Carolina’s growing role in the national nuclear conversation and the momentum building across the state.

National Security Forum at the 3rd Annual SC Nuclear Summit Event

Thank you for being part of the future of south carolina

A Summit of this scale is only possible because of the people and organizations who believe in bringing these conversations together. Thank you to our sponsors, speakers, partners, and the more than 600 attendees who made the 3rd Annual South Carolina Nuclear Summit such a memorable and meaningful event.

Your support, expertise and engagement helped create a room filled with ideas, connections and momentum for South Carolina’s nuclear future. From the leaders who took the stage to the industry professionals, students, educators, policymakers and community leaders who filled the Arena, each of you played a role in making this year’s Summit our most impactful yet.

Thank you for showing up, leaning in and helping move the conversation forward. We’ll see you next year.

Speakers, Presenters, & Panelists

Federal Leadership

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

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 Finissi — 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

Adrienne Schweer — Head of Government Affairs, Oklo

John Williams — Senior Vice President of Technical Services and External Affairs, Southern Nuclear Operating Company

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

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 / Ladder 13
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:
Congressman Russell Fry — U.S. Representative, South Carolina’s 7th Congressional District

Keynote:
Alex Fitzsimmons — Associate Deputy Secretary of Energy & Senior Advisor to the Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy

Special Signing Ceremony

9:00 a.m. | National Investment & Leadership Forum

The Nuclear Capital: Building America’s Next Industrial Powerhouse in South Carolina

Opening Remarks:
Ethel Bunch — Founder & President, Palmetto Nuclear Coalition

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
Todd Abrajano — President & CEO, United States Nuclear Industry Council

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

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
John Williams — EVP of Southern Nuclear, Southern Company

2:30 p.m. | EXPLORE. CONNECT. DISCOVER.

Exhibition & Networking

Visit exhibitors, connect with industry leaders, and continue the conversation.

2:50 p.m. | Fireside Chat

From Innovation to Industry: Building Modular Reactors

Matt MacVicar — Vice President, SMR Strategy & Business Development, Rolls-Royce
Cristina Long Paredes — Executive Director, SC Nexus

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 Finissi — 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