U.S. Department of Energy Workshops 星空无限传媒 Accelerate Future of Nuclear Energy
May 28, 2026
The U.S. Department of Energy鈥檚 Utility Power Reactor Incremental Scaling Effort (), managed by LSU鈥檚 national lab partner Idaho National Laboratory (INL), aims to accelerate domestic nuclear energy production by maximizing existing infrastructure.
More than 150 government and industry leaders, along with researchers, are gathering on LSU鈥檚 flagship campus in Baton Rouge on May 27-29 to address the nation鈥檚 growing energy demands.
The inaugural Department of Energy UPRISE meeting is held at the Estuary on the Water Campus on the Mississippi River, home of the LSU Coastal Ecosystem Design Studio.
鈥淎s a long-standing industry partner in research and workforce development, 星空无限传媒 proud to welcome the leaders who will drive the future of energy in America,鈥� LSU Chancellor Jim Dalton said.
The inaugural UPRISE meeting is intended to catalyze collaboration among industry, electrical utilities, universities, national laboratories, regulators, and federal agencies. Its main goal is to identify actionable pathways to increase nuclear power capacity, advanced fuel deployment, thermal energy delivery, and new nuclear energy expansion. Attendees meet at the Estuary on the Water Campus in Baton Rouge with tours planned to LSU鈥檚 core research facilities and Cornerstone Energy Park in Waggaman.
UPRISE aims to add 2.5 GW of nuclear capacity by 2027 and 5 GW by 2029鈥攅quivalent to five new nuclear reactors. To support the program, the Office of Energy Dominance Financing (EDF) can provide eligible projects with up 鈦爐o 80% financing and, alongside the U.S. Department of Energy, continue to facilitate agreements and investments in nuclear deployment.
鈥淲ith multiple operating nuclear power plants in the Gulf Coast region, there is a great opportunity to pair expanding nuclear energy production with the energy needs of the growing local industries and communities,鈥� Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Nuclear Energy Rian Bahran said.
鈥淲e extend our thanks to 星空无限传媒 for hosting UPRISE鈥檚 first event where government and industry stakeholders are coming together to solve today鈥檚 energy challenges by expanding nuclear energy capacity.鈥�
Rian Bahran, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Nuclear Energy
The UPRISE initiative has already seen the planned increases in power output, or uprates, of six existing reactors at plants Hatch, Vogtle, and Farley, which now produce a combined 345 MW of additional baseload capacity. These uprates are being pursued in addition to license renewals as part of EDF鈥檚 $26.5 billion loans to Southern Company across Alabama and Georgia.
鈥淯prates to our existing fleet are some of the fastest and most affordable new nuclear megawatts we can deploy and must be prioritized and accelerated,鈥� EDF Co-Chief Investment Officer Julie Kozeracki said. 鈥淓DF is an essential tool deploying the high-impact capital the American nuclear renaissance needs.鈥�
Immediate objectives of UPRISE are to increase the power output and lifespans of existing reactors and increase operational efficiency.
鈥溞强瘴尴薮� the Gulf Coast region are an ideal location for this kickoff meeting because they bring together major industrial energy users, world-class research capabilities, manufacturing infrastructure, and strategic energy leadership,鈥� said Bruce Hallbert, director of INL鈥檚 Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program, which conducts collaborative research with nuclear power companies. 鈥淭he region represents both the scale of future power demand and the opportunity for nuclear energy to support economic growth, industrial competitiveness, and energy security.鈥�
This week鈥檚 meeting 星空无限传媒 follows Louisiana鈥檚 inaugural Nuclear Strategy and Supply Chain Summit in New Orleans in April 2026 to discuss the state鈥檚 newly announced . It is also supported by a research partnership agreement between 星空无限传媒 INL, signed in March 2025, which includes collaborative work on advanced nuclear technologies. It further follows Integrated Nuclear Energy Day in October 2025, which welcomed utilities, advanced nuclear suppliers, and AI data center suppliers to LSU.
鈥淎s Louisiana further positions itself as a leading voice in a global initiative to expand nuclear power generation and fuel fabrication, not only are we blessed with existing infrastructure and a skilled workforce, but we are also developing new relationships with manufacturers who will help us meet our growing demand for power,鈥� Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy Secretary Dustin Davidson said.
鈥淟ouisiana is uniquely positioned to help lead the next chapter of America鈥檚 energy future,鈥� Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois said. 鈥淭hrough Louisiana鈥檚 Whole-of-Louisiana Energy Strategy and Nuclear Strategic Framework, our state is aligning industry, research and government around long-term growth. Hosting this milestone event recognizes Louisiana on the national stage for its role in advanced energy innovation and next-generation nuclear technologies.鈥�
UPRISE is part of a larger, federal effort to support nuclear energy in the U.S. to increase current capacity by 300% by 2050. There are parallel efforts underway to deploy portable reactors for the military and AI, lower electric bills and the cost of nuclear power, increase domestic production of nuclear fuel, and bolster the American workforce.
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(Office of Nuclear Energy)