Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) is pleased to host the fifth annual ECA Forum in Augusta, GA from April 21 - April 24, 2026. Join the discussion delivering new nuclear projects on private and federal sites across the U.S. Discover the latest news, business opportunities and nuclear energy advancements with industry leaders, data center companies, host communities, DOE, NRC and State and Tribal governments.
AGENDA:
See the full Agenda with speakers by clicking here!
Speaker Snapshot:
Tim Walsh – Assistant Secretary, DOE-EM
James McConnell – Associate Principal Deputy Administrator, NNSA
Kristen Ellis – Associate Principal Deputy Under Secretary, DOE-SC
Jack Craig - Senior Vice President, Atkins Realis
Adrienne Schweer – Head of Government Affairs, Oklo
Cristina Paredes – Executive Director, SC Nexus
Rod Baltzer – CEO, Deep Isolation
Nikki Sizemore – Manager, Government Affairs, Kairos
Bob Miklos - Executive Vice President of Program Assurance, Veolia
Brian Wood – Senior Vice President – Business Development and Strategy, Orano USA
Matt Griffin – Head of Nuclear & Regulatory Affairs, Antares
Chuck Hope – Councilmember, City of Oak Ridge and ECA Chair
Robbie Bennett – President & CEO, SRSCRO
Jennifer Chandler – Council Member, Village of Piketon
Doreen Harris - CEO, NYSERDA
Suzanne Jaworowski - Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources, State of Indiana
Mckinsey Lyon – VP of External Affairs, Perpetua Resources
Jack Ladyman - Representative (District 32), Arkansas House of Representatives
Shay Lundvall – Mayor, City of Gillette, WY
Kirt Marlow - President, Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium
Chris Stearns – Representative (District 47-Position 2), Washington State Legislature
April Wade – Executive Director, Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium
Sandra Wilson – Mayor Pro Tem, City of Paducah
More speakers to be confirmed soon!
SCHEDULE:
April 21 | Registration Opens & Plenary Sessions
April 22 | Full Day General Session
April 23 | Half Day General Session
April 24 | Savannah River Site Tour & Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Tour
ECA is hosting its fifth New Nuclear Forum, the only meeting designed to bring together local government and community leaders that host or want to host nuclear facilities with the federal government and industry. Join DOE, federal, state, local and tribal governments and policymakers with developers, utilities, regulators, industry, and academia to develop the plans to implement nuclear projects, identify opportunities, challenges and to build the partnerships necessary to support nuclear development.
If you're looking for insights, networking, and real opportunities to shape the future of nuclear energy and community participation, this is the event to be at. We’ll be discussing new fuels, small modular reactors (SMRs), recycling and more.
The meeting brings in the leading nuclear reactor (including SMRs and micro-reactors), fuel producers, nuclear supply chain companies, U.S. DOE, US NRC, data center developers and others in the nuclear industry to highlight their programs and provide a resource to local community leaders to learn about the projects and meet the companies that are leading this global opportunity.
ECA also includes an opening day course on what is nuclear and what it means to host a nuclear facility led by community leaders and experts that host the facilities and where the projects are being built and planned.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
The ECA Forum is open to communities, State, Tribal and local policymakers, industry, utilities, developers, experts, financiers, state legislators, community groups, and economic development organizations working to build capacity and support for new nuclear development in the U.S.
HOTEL INFORMATION:
The 2026 ECA Forum will be held at the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center. Attendees can reserve hotel rooms at the hotel at a special rate of $175.00/night.
Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center
2 10th St
Augusta, GA 30901
To reserve your lodging at the group rate, Click Here!
INTERESTED IN BEING A SPONSOR?
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, visit our sponsorship interest form by clicking here, or contact Autumn Bogus at abogus@la-inc.com.
TOUR
Savannah River Site -
This in-depth tour of the Savannah River Site will include a drive out to K Area Complex, H Canyon and a facility within our Liquid Waste Mission. You’ll hear updates from Site leadership on the status of the Defense Program Missions- the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility construction and Program and Savannah River Tritium Enterprise. We’ll close out the day touring the Savannah River National Laboratory’s Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative.
Separate registration required - availability is limited.
Vogtle Electric Generating Plant -
More details coming soon!
QUESTIONS?
For any questions, comments, or to learn more about the ECA New Nuclear Forum, please contact Laura Hermann, ECA Deputy Executive Director, at lhermann@energyca.org or Andres Ridge, ECA Director of Programs, at ajr@energyca.org.
Don't miss out - click here to register!
Thank you to our Sponsors!
