Advanced Nuclear, the Official Podcast of UCAN Power

In this episode of Advanced Nuclear, host Dominique sits down with nuclear engineer Brett Rampal to examine the momentum behind today’s nuclear resurgence and what lies ahead. From recent reactor design approvals and pilot programs accelerating deployment to the policy challenges of nuclear waste management, Brett offers a clear look at the industry’s most pressing issues. The conversation also highlights workforce development and the wide range of career opportunities shaping the nuclear industry’s future. Brett Rampal is a nuclear energy expert with over 20 years of experience across industry, policy, and investment. He has held engineering and leadership roles at GE Hitachi, Westinghouse, NuScale, and Clean Air Task Force, contributing to reactor design, safety analysis, and major U.S. nuclear policy initiatives. He currently serves as Senior Director of Nuclear and Power Strategy at Veriten, advising energy companies, utilities, and investors on nuclear development and deployment.www.ucanpower.org

In this episode of the Advanced Nuclear podcast, host Jim Howe discusses the critical role of nuclear power in America's energy landscape with guests Ethel Bunch and Jordan Marsh from the Palmetto Nuclear Coalition. They explore South Carolina's significant contributions to nuclear energy, the current status of the VC Summer nuclear plant, the state's efforts to attract new nuclear businesses, and the strong, bipartisan support nuclear power receives from South Carolina's elected leaders. The conversation highlights the importance of legislative support, the essential need for workforce development, and the competitive landscape among states in advancing nuclear power.

In this episode of the Advanced Nuclear Podcast, Stephen Long, CEO of Global Laser Enrichment (GLE), discusses his company's work to bring the next generation of uranium enrichment technology to market. The conversation explores the evolution of enrichment technologies, focusing on the innovative laser-based method that GLE has developed. Steve describes recent advancements in the nuclear fuel supply chain, the significance of GLE's test loop facility in Wilmington, North Carolina -- where actual enrichment is being conducted at demonstration scale -- and the strategic plans for the company's Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility. He emphasizes the importance of cost competitiveness, regulatory compliance, and partnerships in the nuclear industry, while also addressing nonproliferation safeguards and the future of nuclear innovation.In his role, Steve is responsible for providing strategic, operational, and project leadership of GLE, including the management of GLE’s day-day operations and delivery of the company’s technology development and commercialization objectives. Steve also serves as the Senior Management Official on the company’s independent Board of Managers.Prior to joining GLE, Steve spent over thirteen years with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) and Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF) in a variety of global project, commercial, and business leadership roles. Most recently, Steve served as the Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development for GEH, where he was instrumental in advancing GEH and GNF’s interests and securing partnerships in the emerging small modular reactor and advanced nuclear fuel market segments.Steve began his career as a Submarine Warfare Officer and Naval Nuclear Propulsion Engineer in the United States Navy, where he was repeatedly recognized as one of the Navy’s top junior officers over his eight years of service. He holds a B.S. in Systems Engineering from the United States Naval Academy, an M.S. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler School of Business.

Internationally-recognized nuclear fuels expert Elmer Dyke joins UCAN Power's Advanced Nuclear podcast to discuss the state of the fuel industry. Elmer provides an in-depth overview of all segments of the nuclear fuel supply chain -- mining, conversion, enrichment, and fuel fabrication -- and provides critical insights about recent fuel cycle developments and the challenges faced by the industry. He analyzes the impact of the ban on Russian uranium imports, discusses the new enrichment capacity being brought to the market, and describes the new fuel forms and enrichment levels that will be needed to support the growing set of Generation IV reactor vendors. Without fuel, there is no nuclear industry, and this is an important and impactful discussion about this critical topic.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Nuclear Fuel Cycle01:26 Current State of the Nuclear Fuel Industry04:15 Uranium Mining in the U.S.07:54 The Conversion Process and Its Challenges14:58 Enrichment: The Key to Reactor Fuel17:20 Impact of Russian Supply on the Market27:08 Fuel Fabrication and Its Role in the Cycle29:30 Transitioning to New Fuel Sources34:07 The Future of Enrichment Technologies37:13 Understanding Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) and HALU46:34 Challenges and Opportunities in Advanced Reactor Deployment48:54 The Nuclear Fuel Industry's Capacity for Expansion57:01 The Future Landscape of Nuclear Fuels by 2030

In this episode of the Advanced Nuclear podcast, Simon Irish, CEO of Terrestrial Energy, talks about his company, its Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) technology, and the financial aspects of the advanced nuclear industry. Simon shares his unique background in finance and how it influences his approach to reactor development and deployment. The conversation covers the company's strategic move to go public and the evolving investment landscape for advanced nuclear projects. Simon highlights Terrestrial Energy's impressive industry and supply chain partners, the company's distinguished Board of Directors and Board of Advisors, and the industries Terrestrial Energy is targeting to power using the IMSR technology. The episode concludes with Simon's insights on the future of the U.S. advanced nuclear industry and the current pro-nuclear environment.Simon Irish is founder and Chief Executive Officer of Terrestrial Energy. He has 20 years of global investment banking and investment management experience in New York and London, and has a formal education in the quantitative sciences and quantitative finance. Mr. Irish has established and managed multi-billion-dollar alternative investment businesses in North America. Mr. Irish began his banking career at Credit Suisse Financial Products in London before moving to New York, where he led the investment effort in North America for Man Group Plc, a leading global investment management business. In 2010, he focused on investment opportunities in breakthrough energy technologies and specifically nuclear energy given its unique virtues, and the unparalleled commercial potential of Generation IV fission technologies in many industries at a time when global energy fundamentals are shifting rapidly with nuclear energy emerging as a critical component of future supply. Mr. Irish holds an MA in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University and an MSc in Finance from the London Business School.

In this episode of the Advanced Nuclear podcast, host Jim Howe is joined by Dan Poneman, an internationally-recognized expert on nuclear energy policy and America's longest-serving Deputy Secretary of Energy. They explore the evolution of nuclear policy in the U.S, the importance of bipartisan support, and the relationship between government and the nuclear industry. Poneman shares his insights on the priorities of the nonprofit Nuclear Energy and National Security Coalition, his initial views on the Trump administration's recent nuclear-related executive orders, the significance of U.S. nuclear exports in reducing proliferation risks, and the steps needed to resurrect the domestic nuclear fuel industry. The conversation also addresses the future of nuclear technology, including the development of advanced reactors, and the steps necessary to support a nuclear resurgence in the U.S.Daniel Poneman served as President and CEO of Centrus Energy Corp. from 2015 through 2023, restoring the company to profitability and deploying the first U.S.-technology uranium enrichment facility to begin production since 1954. Mr. Poneman served as Deputy Secretary of Energy from 2009 through 2014. As Chief Operating Officer of the Department, Mr. Poneman’s responsibilities spanned all energy technology and nuclear security issues. He led 2009 negotiations to address Iran’s nuclear program, chaired the Credit Review Board approval of $30 billion in projects accelerating the widespread deployment of electric vehicles and renewable power, played an instrumental role in the Department’s response to crises from Fukushima to the Libyan civil war to Superstorm Sandy, and led efforts to strengthen emergency response and cybersecurity across the energy sector. He served six years at the National Security Council under Presidents Bush and Clinton, including three as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Nonproliferation and Export Controls. In the private sector, Mr. Poneman has advised on corporate transactions as a principal of The Scowcroft Group and as a partner in the law firm of Hogan & Hartson, and currently serves in a number of board and consulting roles. Mr. Poneman received A.B. and J.D. degrees with honors from Harvard and an M.Litt. from Oxford. He is the author of Double Jeopardy: Combating Nuclear Terror and Climate Change, Argentina: Democracy on Trial, and Nuclear Power in the Developing World. His third book, Going Critical: The First North Korean Nuclear Crisis (co-authored with Joel Wit and Robert Gallucci), received the 2005 Douglas Dillon Award for Distinguished Writing on American Diplomacy. He has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by the Japanese government and the Bronze Tower Order of Industrial Service Merit from the Republic of Korea.This podcast is brought to you by the United Coalition for Advanced Nuclear Power (UCAN Power) Homepage - https://ucanpower.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ucanpower

In this episode of the Advanced Nuclear podcast, our host speaks with Todd Abrajano, President and CEO of the United States Nuclear Industry Council (USNIC), to discuss the evolution of USNIC, Todd's journey into the nuclear industry, and the growing demand for advanced nuclear technologies. The wide-ranging conversation highlights the importance of the fuel supply chain, the geopolitical implications of US nuclear exports, the competitive advantages of American nuclear technology, and the role of AI in streamlining nuclear regulation. The episode concludes with a look at the future of nuclear energy and its critical role in supporting high-tech industries and national security.