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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17

 

ARSXII WELCOME RECEPTION

Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City 

6:00pm – 7:30pm

 

Welcoming Remarks

 

Mr. Todd Abrajano

President & CEO

U.S. Nuclear Industry Council

 

Hon. Jeffrey S. Merrifield 

Former Commissioner, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Chair, USNIC 

Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman

 

Dr. Jess Gehin 

Associate Lab Director for Nuclear Science and Technology

Idaho National Laboratory

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH – PLENARY

Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City

 

8:00 AM

REGISTRATION & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

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8:30 AM

WELCOME ADDRESS

 

Mr. Todd Abrajano

President & CEO

U.S. Nuclear Industry Council

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Hon. Jeffrey S. Merrifield

Former Commissioner, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Chairman, USNIC

Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP

 

8:40 AM

I. WELCOME TO UTAH

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​9:00 AM

II. FIRESIDE CHAT

Lasers, wafers and nuclear - the story of LIS Technologies

 

Dr. Ron Faibish - (Moderator)

Vice Chair, USNIC

Senior Director of Strategic Development

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems

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Mr. Christo Liebenberg 

Co-Founder, CEO and COO

LIS Technologies, Inc. (LIST)

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​9:30 AM

III. NUCLEAR AND DATA CENTERS – HIGH TECH GOES GREEN

This panel will focus on potential opportunities to deploy micro nuclear reactors for the production of clean energy for data centers.

 

Mr. Ryan Lighty – Moderator
Partner

Morgan Lewis

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Mr. Mike Kramer 

Vice President of Data Economy Strategy

Constellation

 

Mr. Jeff Olson 

Vice President of Business Development and Finance

Kairos Power

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10:10 AM

BREAK ï»¿

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10:40 AM

IV. PROJECT EXECUTION – HOW WILL WE GET THESE PLANTS BUILT

This panel will focus on challenges in getting advanced nuclear technology developed, and in deploying nuclear in industrial and data center applications. The panelists will focus on the engineering, construction, fabrication and supply of components and people that will enable advanced nuclear technologies. 

 

Mr. Keyes Niemer - (Moderator)

Senior Vice President, Global Nuclear Sector

Worley

 

Mr. Bob Nussmeier

Vice President of Strategic Clients

Baker Concrete Construction

 

Mr. Herbert Lam 

Regional Manager, USA (Nuclear)  

Hatch

 

Mr. Caleb Strother 

General Manager Commercial

Nucor Corporation

 

Mr. John Portillo

Vice President, Global New Nuclear

Paragon Energy Solutions

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11:20 AM

V. FLEET SCALE DEPLOYMENT BECOMING A REALITY

This panel will focus on the benefits of collaboration in deploying a fleet of standardized reactors.

 

Mr. Rich Mroz – (Moderator)
Former President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (2014-2018);
Managing Director
Resolute Strategies

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Mr. Sean Sexstone 

Executive Vice President, Advanced Nuclear
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
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Mr. Rafal Kasprow

Chief Executive Officer

ORLEN Synthos Green Energy 

 

Mr. Greg Boerschig 

Vice President, Clinch River Project

Tennessee Valley Authority​

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12:00 PM

VI. FIRESIDE CHAT

 

Hon. Jeffrey Merrifield (Moderator)

Former Commissioner, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission;

Chairman, USNIC;

Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP

 

Mr. Doug Robison 

Chairman & Founder

Natura Resources

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12:30 PM

LUNCH

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1:20 PM

VII. ALTERNATIVE MODELS FOR REACTOR DEPLOYMENT

This panel will focus on ongoing efforts to engage with communities and non-traditional developers to enable the emergence of new markets for nuclear generation.

 

Hon. Rita Baranwal

Senior Vice President: AP300 SMR

Westinghouse

 

Mr. Chris Sheryn 

Chief Development Officer

United Community Nuclear

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1:50 PM

VIII. FIRESIDE CHAT REGARDING NUCLEAR DEPLOYMENT IN ROMANIA

 

Mr. Todd Abrajano (Moderator)

President & CEO

U.S. Nuclear Industry Council

 

Mr. Cosmin Ghita

CEO

Nuclear Electrica

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2:20 PM

IX. RAMPING UP – ENRICHMENT CAPACITY PROGRAMS TO POWER ADVANCED NUCLEAR AND INCREASE EFFICIENCY FOR CURRENT GENERATION

 

Dr. Magnus Mori

Head of Market Development & Technical Sales

Urenco Global

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2:40 PM

BREAK

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3:10 PM

X. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION 

These three speakers will discuss their efforts to accelerate the efficient and safe deployment of advanced nuclear reactors.

 

Ms. Elina Teplinsky (Moderator) 

Partner

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP

 

Hon. Laura Holgate 

Former U.S. Ambassador to IAEA 

U.S. Department of State

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3:40 PM

XI. TRAILBLAZER UPDATE

 

Ms. Liz Muller 

CEO

Deep Fission

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4:00 PM

XII. PANEL – ADVANCED REACTOR DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM DEPLOYMENT

This panel will focus on the challenges in getting advanced nuclear technology deployed at prior coals sites and in industrial settings, and well as challenges in getting widespread deployment.

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Mr. Nicholas McMurray – (Moderator)
Managing Director, International & Nuclear Policy
ClearPath

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Dr. Benjamin Reinke

Vice President, Global Business Development

Advisor to the CEO

X-energy

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4:40 PM

XIII. TRAILBLAZER UPDATE

 

Mr. Mike Reinhart 

President 

Kiewit Nuclear Solutions

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5:00 PM

XIV. TRAILBLAZER UPDATE

 

VADM Fritz Roegge, USN (Ret.)

President - Holtec Government Services 

Senior Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer - Holtec International

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5:20 PM

ADJOURN DAY ONE PLENARY

ADVANCED REACTORS SUMMIT XII

TRAILBLAZER AWARDS RECEPTION

 

February 18, 2025

The Depot

(13 N 400 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84101)

 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

 

HONOREES

 

TRAILBLAZER AWARD

 

Mr. Michael W. Rencheck

Bruce Power

 

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TRAILBLAZER AWARD

 

Kairos Power

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Brought To You By

Bruce Power.png

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19th - PLENARY

Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City

 

7:30 AM

REGISTRATION & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

 

8:00 AM

WELCOME & RECAP DAY 1

 

Mr. Todd Abrajano

President & CEO

U.S. Nuclear Industry Council

 

Hon. Jeffrey Merrifield

Former Commissioner, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Chairman, USNIC Advanced Nuclear Working Group

Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman

 

8:10 AM

XV. FIRESIDE CHAT

 

Hon. Jeffrey S. Merrifield 

Former Commissioner, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission;

Chairman, USNIC;

Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP

 

Dr. Jess Gehin 

Associate Lab Director for Nuclear Science and Technology

Idaho National Laboratory

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8:35 AM

XVI. FIRESIDE CHAT

 

Hon. Jeffrey S. Merrifield 

Former Commissioner, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission;

Chairman, USNIC;

Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP

 

Mr. Mike Rencheck

Executive Vice Chair 

(Retired President & CEO)

Bruce Power

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9:00 AM

XVII. THE TIME TO BUILD IS NOW: MOVING DIRT IN WYOMING

This panel will provide an update on the current progress of deploying the TerraPower Natrium design in Kemmerer, Wyoming and actions that have been taken over the last year.

 

Ms. Bristol Hartlage - (Moderator) 

Senior Director of Business Development

Numerical Advisory Solutions (a Zachry Group Company)

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Mr. Chris Levesque

Chief Executive Officer

TerraPower

 

Ms. Cindy Crane 

Chief Executive Officer

PacifiCorp

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9:35 AM

BREAK

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10:00 AM
XVIII. GENERATION IV AND BEYOND

Blue Energy: learning from other industries to reduce the cost, time, and investor risk of new nuclear.

 

Mr. Jake Jurewicz
CEO
Blue Energy

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10:20 AM

XIX. FIRESIDE CHAT TRAILBLAZER UPDATE

 

Hon. Jeffrey S. Merrifield 

Former Commissioner, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission;

Chairman, USNIC;

Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP

 

Mr. Jay Surina

Managing Partner

Pelican Energy Partners

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11:10 AM

XX. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE AUKUS TREATY AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CIVILIAN NUCLEAR SECTOR IN AUSTRALIA – THE POTENTIAL FOR U.S. AUSTRALIAN COLLABORATION

 

Mr. Michael Sharpe 

Chief Executive Officer

AUKUS Forum

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11:30 AM

XXI. ENHANCING U.S. AUSTRALIAN COLLABORATION

This panel will focus on efforts the U.S. and Australia can collaborate to enable to potential development of a civilian nuclear sector in Australia.

 

Ms. Cristina Talacko (Moderator)

CEO 

Coalition for Conservation – Australia

 

Mr. Patrick Gibbons

Partner & Founder 

Orizontas

 

Mr. Steven Kiser
Senior Vice President / Global Energy Sector Lead
WSP

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Mr. Scott Kopple

Senior Director, Government Relations

BWX Technologies, Inc.

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12:10 PM

XXII. ENRICHMENT DEVELOPMENTS TO ENABLE ADVANCED REACTOR DEPLOYMENT 

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Mr. Larry Cutlip 

Senior Vice President Field Operations

Centrus Energy

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12:30 PM

LUNCH

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1:20 PM

XXIII. SETTING THE REGULATORY STAGE

This all-star panel will discuss the strategies nuclear regulators will be using to address the burgeoning development of Advanced Reactor Technologies in the U.S., Canada, the UK, and in other international regulatory environments.

 

Hon. Jeffrey S. Merrifield – Moderator 

Former Commissioner, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission;

Chairman, USNIC;

Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman

 

Hon. Annie Caputo 

Commissioner

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

 

Mr. Mark Foy

His Majesty’s Chief Inspector

UK Office of Nuclear Regulation

 

Mr. Pierre Tremblay

President

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

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1:50 PM

XXIV. EFFORTS TO ENABLE NEW NUCLEAR DEPLOYMENT IN UTAH 

 

Dr. Laura S. Nelson 

Regional Engagement Lead - Utah

Idaho National Laboratory - GAIN

 

Ms. Emy Lesofski

Executive Director of the Office of Energy Development & 

Governor’s Energy Advisor

State of Utah

 

Dr. Marian Rice

Professor (Energy Futures Research Initiative)

University of Utah

 

Mr. Mason Baker

Chief Executive Officer

Utah Associated Municipal Power District

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2:20 PM

XXV. TRAILBLAZERS UPDATE 

This fireside chat will focus on the steps that are being taken to ensure that the next generation of advanced reactors are supplied with the fuel services needed to make them a success.

 

Dr. Corey McDaniel – (Moderator)
Vice President, Fuel & Advanced Reactor Deployment
Kiewit Nuclear Solutions

 

Mr. Robert Freeman

Chief Growth Officer – Nuclear Fuels

Framatome Inc.

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2:40 PM

XXVI. TRAILBLAZERS UPDATE

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3:00 PM

BREAK

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3:30 PM

XXVII. SAFEGUARDS AND SECURITY BY DESIGN 

 

Ms. Melissa Mann

Associate Assistant Deputy Administrator

Office of Nonproliferation and Arms Control

DOE, National Nuclear Security Administration 

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3:50 PM

XXVIII. TRAILBLAZER UPDATE 

 

Mr. Christopher Colbert

Chief Executive Officer

Elementl Power

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4:10 PM

XXIX. FINANCE PANEL

Because of the importance of financing for widespread adoption of advanced nuclear, this panel will discuss financing strategies for initial units in industry, data centers, and electric utilities, as well as financing strategies for fleets of almost identical Small Modular Reactors and Microreactors in the U.S. and internationally. 

 

Mr. Todd Abrajano – Moderator 

President & CEO

U.S. Nuclear Industry Council

 

Mr. Zach Larkin

Managing Director

The Cynosure Group

 

Mr. Alexi Viarruel 

Vice President, Power & Renewables Investment Banking 

J.P. Morgan

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4:55 PM

CLOSING REMARKS & ADJOURN DAY TWO PLENARY

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20th - OPTIONAL TOUR (7:30 AM - 2:00 PM)

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ARSXII Optional Tour

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Morning -- The University of Utah Nuclear Reactor Tour: 

With a commitment to innovation and excellence, the Utah Nuclear Engineering Program (UNEP) aims to push the boundaries of multidisciplinary nuclear-related fields. UNEP’s overarching goal is to continually make strides in the advancement of multidisciplinary nuclear-related fields such as actinide synthesis, electronics nesting, energy, and more. The University of Utah (UU) is one of the few institutions in the nation that houses its own nuclear reactor. UNEP has been conducting research and training on the TRIGA reactor since 1975. TRIGA stands for Training, Research, Isotopes General Atomics. There are currently only 35 TRIGA reactors operating in the world, with 17 in the United States. Having its own nuclear reactor enables UU to conduct research for nuclear medicine, nuclear forensics, radiation detection, and more.

For more information, visit: https://www.civil.utah.edu/research/nuclear/

 

Afternoon -- Novva's Utah Data Center Tour:

Novva's flagship hyper-scale data center is the largest data center in Utah, and one of the largest wholesale colocation campuses in the United States, spanning 100 acres with 1.5 million square feet of purpose-built data center space sustainably designed to provide high-density, adaptable data infrastructure for businesses. 

For more information, visit: https://www.novva.com/data-center-facilities/utah/

 

Please note: Participation in the optional tours requires separate registration. In addition, the University of Utah requires a security form to be submitted before entry to their research reactor. This form will be emailed to you once you register.

The Advanced Reactors Summit XII

& Technology Trailblazers Showcase

 

February 17-20, 2025 | Salt Lake City, UT 

 
 

Technology and Innovation in Advanced Nuclear

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Under the auspices of

 
New USNIC_Logo_New 2018 v2.png

The Advanced Reactors Summit XII & 

Technology Trailblazers Showcase

February 17-20, 2025 | Salt Lake City, UT

About USNIC

The U.S. Nuclear Industry Council (USNIC) is the leading U.S. business advocate for the advancement of applications for nuclear energy technology, and promotion of the U.S. supply-chain worldwide.  USNIC represents approximately eighty entities engaged in all aspects of the future of nuclear technology.  These include: key utility movers, technology developers, construction engineers, manufactures, front- and back-end service providers, scientists, academia, national laboratories, fuel innovators, as well as those involved in medical and aerospace advancements. USNIC encompasses five working groups including an Advanced Nuclear Working Group. For more information visit www.usnic.org

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