Nuclear Power Capital Projects Forum

Keynote: Department of Energy Nuclear Project Status - Presented by Robert Boston, Manager, Idaho Operations Office, U.S. Department of Energy

• Discussing DOE’s categorical exclusion for authorization, siting, construction, operation, reauthorization, and decommissioning of advanced nuclear reactors; streamlining of the permitting process; and the status of SMR projects at Idaho National Laboratory

Case Study: Darlington New Nuclear Project

• Overview of the 4x300MW unit project, which is setting a new standard for nuclear delivery through collaboration, modularization, and real-time learning. Gain practical takeaways for owners and contractors seeking to deliver complex projects faster, safer, and more reliably.
• Best Practices being leveraged in this groundbreaking undertaking.
• Lessons learned to date.
• Future opportunities and challenges.  

Presentation: Workforce Development Recommendations for Advanced Nuclear Deployment - Presented by Dani Zigon, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Nuclear & Radiation Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin

• Discover how Texas is tackling the nuclear workforce challenge with bold, coordinated action.
• Learn insights and recommendations from the landmark report, “Cultivating Homegrown Nuclear Talent in Texas – Workforce Development Recommendations for Advanced Nuclear Deployment.” Explore how the state’s urgent need for more than 10,000 skilled workers is driving innovative workforce strategies. Drawing on lessons from a multi-sector workshop, the session highlights actionable recommendations for aligning industry, education, and government to rapidly scale nuclear talent pipelines. Companies delivering nuclear projects across the U.S. will discover how Texas’s coordinated approach—focused on training, partnerships, and policy—offers a blueprint for overcoming workforce gaps, accelerating project delivery, and securing America’s nuclear future.

Case Study: Darlington Refurbishment Project - Presented by Peter Simpson, VP Enterprise Planning and Project Controls, Ontario Power Generation

• Overview of the $12.5B refurbishment of the 4x1000MW Darlington Station.
• Best Practices that contributed to the success of the project.
• Lessons learned.
• How the success of Darlington Refurbishment provided capability, credibility, and confidence to execute the Darlington New Nuclear Project.

Presentation: Nuclear Landscape and Opportunities - Presented by Ben Holtzman, NEI’s Director of New Nuclear

• Ben Holtzman will provide an overview of the evolving landscape of U.S. nuclear energy. The U.S. nuclear industry is standing at a historic crossroads. Today, the convergence of surging energy demand and unprecedented federal support has transformed new nuclear generation from a concept into a construction reality. However, moving from pilot projects and criticality tests to a deployment at scale requires more than just ambition—it requires a new industrial playbook. In this presentation, we will move beyond the hype to examine the practical tools and systemic risks of deploying new nuclear at scale.