With the emergence of new nuclear energy technologies, states may soon begin to reconsider how nuclear generation factors into their energy portfolio. What is expected to be the first operational Small Modular Reactor (SMR) in North America is currently being built in Ontario, Canada. In addition to the SMR, Ontario’s current and planned nuclear programs require the development of a skilled workforce and a reliable supply chain of critical minerals. To facilitate an exchange of knowledge and expertise on the cost and timelines associated with new nuclear energy projects, CSG South, in partnership with the Government of Ontario (through the Ontario Investment and Trade Office in Dallas, Texas) hosted the Bigger May Not Be Better: The Potential of Small Nuclear Reactors to Address Energy Needs Policy Masterclass.
Twenty participants from ten Southern states – Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia – participated in the Masterclass over four days. The first day included arrivals and an evening reception jointly hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada (AmCham) and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) at the OTPP headquarters in Toronto. Officials from both organizations; diplomats from the U.S. Consulate General in Toronto (including the Consul General) also participated.
Over the next three days, attendees participated in 17 learning sessions ranging from information on SMR technology to critical minerals to workforce development. Throughout the Masterclass, participants engaged with top Ontario officials, including:
- Premier Doug Ford
- Ted Arnott, Legislative Assembly Speaker
- Stephen Lecce, Minister for Energy and Electrification
- Jill Dunlop, Minister for Education
- Victor Fedeli, Minister for Economic Development
- Sam Oosterhoff, Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries
Participants travelled to the Darlington Nuclear Station operated by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) where they received briefings on nuclear expansion, waste management, and supply chain growth and undertook a walkthrough of a mockup Canada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) reactor and a bus tour of the Darlington site, including where the SMR is being constructed.
The 17 Learning Sessions were as follows:
- Learning Session 1: Nuclear Energy and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) Presenter: Constantine Dmitriev, Ontario Ministry of Energy and Electrification
- Learning Session 2: GE Hitachi BWRX-300 SMR Technology Presenter: Lisa McBride, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
- Learning Session 3: Supply Chain Considerations for SMR Deployment Presenter: John MacQuarrie, BWXT Commercial Operations
- Learning Session 4: Westinghouse microreactor and SMR technologies and opportunities in Ontario/Canada Presenter: Agata Leszkiewicz, Westinghouse Canada
- Learning Session 5: Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL) Presenter: Fred Dermarkar, AECL
- Learning Session 6: AtkinsRéalis – Nuclear Presenter: Julianne den Decker, AtkinsRéalis
- Learning Session 7: Bruce C Project & Exploring expansion of large nuclear at Bruce Power Presenter: Pat Dalzell, Bruce Power
- Learning Session 8: Nuclear Waste Management Presenter: Lisa Frizzell, The Nuclear Waste Management Organization
- Learning Session 9: New Nuclear Growth & Supply Chain Presenters: Sandra Dykxhoorn, Jessica Polak, and Jennifer Lafferty, Ontario Power Generation
- Learning Session 10: Leading Innovation Presenters: Alana Magsombol and Doug Hart, Corporate Training Services at Durham College
- Learning Session 11: Ontario Tech: The Nuclear Sector’s Workforce Development Presenter: Jennifer McKellar, Ontario Tech University
- Learning Session 12: Canada’s SMR Market Presenter: Brian Fehrenbach, Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries
- Learning Session 13: Critical Minerals Presenter: Raed Kadri, Ontario Centre of Innovation
- Learning Session 14: Creating the Conditions for Success: Bruce Power Case Study on Ecosystem Development Presenter: Stellina Williams, Nuclear Innovation Institute
- Learning Session 15: Building the Nuclear Workforce of the Future Presenters: Susan Tighe and David Novog, McMaster University
- Learning Session 16: Building a World-Class Electricity Workforce Presenters: Nirav Patel and Yulia Nerovny, Electricity Human Resources Canada
- Learning Session 17: Canada, the United States and Top Tier Nuclear Nations: A Comparative Policy Analysis Presenter: Chad Richards, Nuclear Innovation Institute
The 20 participants were as follows:
- Mr. Joshua Baxter, Attorney Specialist for the Arkansas Public Service Commission
- Senator George Burns, Oklahoma
- Senator Danny Carroll, Kentucky
- Representative Micah Caskey, South Carolina
- Senator Hillman Frazier, Mississippi
- Representative Donna Givens, Alabama
- Delegate Anitra Hamilton, West Virginia
- Senator Bob Hensgens, Louisiana
- Representative Brian Hill, Oklahoma
- Representative Jason Hughes, Louisiana
- Senator Andrew Jones, Alabama
- Representative Jack Ladyman, Arkansas
- Representative Annie McDaniel, South Carolina
- Senator Matt McKee, Arkansas
- Representative Sam McKenzie, Tennessee
- Secretary of Energy & Environment, Ken McQueen, Oklahoma
- Mr. Weasley Seaman, Energy Project Manager for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce
- Delegate George Street, West Virginia
- Representative Bill Werkheiser, Georgia
- Representative Bruce Williamson, Georgia
The post Bigger May Not Be Better: The Potential of Small Nuclear Reactors to Address Energy Needs appeared first on CSG South.
