2026 Event Schedule

This panel will address recent developments in the regulation of nuclear energy and nuclear waste storage, and how they have affected, or might in the future affect, the expanded use of nuclear energy across the country.  Panelists will cover recent regulatory developments across the country.  Among other things, the panel will discuss the potential ripple effects of the Supreme Court’s June 18, 2025 decision in Nuclear Regulatory Commission v. Texas, where the Supreme Court suggested its support for the NRC’s authority to issue licenses for the temporary off-site storage of nuclear waste.  The NRC’s authority to issue such licenses is essential to the nuclear industry, and the court’s seeming support for that authority could encourage investment in nuclear energy.

Panelists will include leaders from utilities that either currently control or are investing in adding nuclear generation, including Delia Patterson from the Salt River Project.  Delia can discuss SRP’s decision to explore adding nuclear generation in Arizona, and how that decision has been influenced by regulatory changes in the area, or might be influenced in the future by anticipated changes in the regulatory scheme.  Another panelist, Anne Leidich will offer her unique perspective and insight into the NRC v. Texas case, where she served as counsel of record to Holtec International, the owner and licensee of the spent fuel storage facility license issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission at issue in the case.  Other potential panelists include representatives from the Nuclear Energy Institute (which is the trade association for the commercial nuclear energy industry) and utilities like Duke Energy or Southern.  The moderator has reached out to potential panelists from Duke Energy and Southern but has not been able to confirm their availability, so they have not been listed as speakers, but if accepted an additional panelist (or two) from those utilities would be added.

The moderator of the session will be Jennifer Fischell, a former Supreme Court clerk who has published on the NRC v. Texas decision and can offer a different perspective on the Supreme Court's ruling.  (Note: Jennifer is also the proposer and proposed moderator for another panel about data centers; if both panels were selected, Jennifer could arrange for another moderator for one of the panels.)