The Molinaroli College of Engineering & Computing at the university of South Carolina Presents
The 2nd Annual SC Nuclear Summit
The University of South Carolina's Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing will host the 2nd Annual SC Nuclear Summit supported by Palmetto Nuclear Coalition and Santee Cooper, a cornerstone event in our state’s journey toward becoming the national leader in advanced nuclear energy.
This year’s Summit will celebrate South Carolina’s emergence as the proving ground for America’s next nuclear era—anchored by the V.C. Summer site and strengthened by world-class assets including the Westinghouse Fuel Fabrication Facility, Savannah River Site, Savannah River National Laboratory, and Joint Base Charleston.
Together, these institutions position South Carolina as the state most capable of advancing the President’s agenda to secure energy dominance, national security and global competitiveness.
Date:
Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025
Location:
Colonial Life Arena
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS:
use promo code summit2025 with your .gov email address
Become a sponsor
Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Use the contact form or reach out directly to info@palmettonuclear.org.
Premier Sponsor
Supported by
Sponsored By
Why should you be there?
Network with Leaders
Engage directly with utilities, off-takers, industry executives, academic experts, and policymakers from both state and federal levels — including partners driving nuclear deployment, technology innovation, and national energy strategy.
Celebrate South Carolina
Recognized as the nation’s proving ground for advanced nuclear energy, South Carolina is home to the V.C. Summer site, the Westinghouse Fuel Fabrication Facility, the Savannah River Site, Savannah River National Laboratory, and military assets.
Together, these assets form the backbone of America’s nuclear supply chain and defense capability, positioning the state to lead implementation of the President’s Executive Order calling for ten new AP1000 reactors nationwide.
Drive Innovation
Help shape the partnerships, policy, and investment frameworks that will define America’s next era of energy dominance, strengthen national security, and expand the global competitiveness of the U.S. industrial base.
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS: use promo code summit2025 with your .gov email address
AGENDA
7:30 – 8:30 AM | Registration & Breakfast Fireside Chat
8:15 – 8:45 AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks
8:45 – 9:30 AM | Fireside Chat
9:30 - 9:45 AM | Opening Keynote: South Carolina’s Energy Vision and National Leadership
How South Carolina is leading America’s energy dominance, national security, and global competitiveness through strategic investment, innovation, and workforce development.
9:45 – 10:30 AM | South Carolina’s Response: The Catalyst for America’s Nuclear Resurgence
Discussion on how V.C. Summer is one of America’s most consequential energy projects and establishes South Carolina as the catalyst for building out a national AP1000 fleet, responding to President Trump’s Executive Order Executive Order 14299 by accelerating deployment timelines, strengthening domestic manufacturing, and positioning the state as the launch point for the nation’s Ten-Reactor Vision
10:30 – 11:15 AM | New Partnerships to Drive the Nuclear Resurgence
This panel will explore how this federal-enabled, private-sector-led partnership is reshaping the economics and perception of nuclear power—positioning the United States not only to meet its domestic energy needs but to lead the world in next-generation nuclear technology, manufacturing, and export capability.
11:15 – 11:30 AM | Networking Break
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM | AI & Innovation — Powering the Next Generation of Nuclear
A focused conversation on the Westinghouse–Google AI Partnership and how advanced digital tools, data analytics, and AI innovations are reducing costs, shortening project timelines, and strengthening grid reliability for next-generation nuclear deployment.
12:15 – 1:30 PM | Westinghouse Sponsored Lunch
12:30 pm - 12:45 pm Presentation by PwC Representative
12:45 - 1:30 PM | South Carolina Local Vendors Supporting Nuclear Revitalization
This panel highlights the critical role South Carolina’s industrial base will play in driving the nation’s nuclear revival featuring leading CEOs whose companies form the backbone of the state’s energy, construction, and manufacturing ecosystem.
Panelists will speak to supply chain readiness, workforce capabilities, and how local vendors can scale to meet the demands of advanced nuclear deployment—particularly at VC Summer.
1:30 – 2:15 PM | University of South Carolina Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing World Class Nuclear Innovation Center
Four Pillars of Innovation:
Large Reactors & Grid Infrastructure Renewal
SMRs for Industrial Decarbonization
Microreactors for Defense & Critical Infrastructure
Fuel-Cycle R&D, Recycling & Actinide Sciences
2:15 – 3:30 PM | Nuclear Power for National Defense: SMRs, Microreactors, Data Centers, & Mission Readiness
Examining how advanced microreactors, SMRs, and the nuclear fuel cycle are transforming national security, powering defense installations, enhancing grid resilience, and strengthening America’s energy independence.
3:30 PM – 4:15 PM | Policy, People, Partnerships, and Technology
What essential conditions—policy, people, partnerships, and technology—must be in place for the U.S. to deploy the next generation of microreactors, SMRs, and advanced fuel cycle technologies?
4:30 | Closing Remarks
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS: use promo code summit2025 with your .gov email address
SPeakers & Panelists
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster
The Honorable G. Murrell Smith, Jr.
Speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives
U.S. Congressman Russell Fry
David A. Wright
Commissioner, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
The Honorable Tom Davis
Member of the South Carolina Senate
Vice Admiral Paul G. Gaffney II
Counselor to the Dean, USC Molinaroli College of Engineering & Computing
Rick Lee
Chair, South Carolina Governor’s Nuclear Advisory Council
Jimmy Staton
President & CEO, Santee Cooper
Peter M. McCoy Jr.
Chairman, Board of Directors, Santee Cooper; Former U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina
Michael Amiridis
President, University of South Carolina
Boyd Blanchard
President and CEO, Blanchard Machinery
Jordan Bramble
CEO, Antares
Mitch Davidson
Managing Partner, Renewable Power & Transition Group, Brookfield
Jimmy Gibbs
Founder and CEO, Gibbs International
Sara Hazzard
Incoming President & CEO, South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce
Alex Molinaroli
Former CEO, Johnson Controls; Founder, Molinaroli College of Engineering & Computing Endowment
Greg Thompson
Founder, President and CEO, Thompson Construction Inc.
Jeff Uphues
CEO, DC Blox
Luca Oriani
President, Westinghouse Electric Company
Raiford Smith
Global Head, Power and Energy for Cloud, Google
Mike Stake
Founder, Board Member, President and CEO, Metatomic
Dr. Hossein Haj-Hariri
Dean, USC Molinaroli College of Engineering & Computing
Dr. Travis Knight
Professor & Nuclear Engineering Program Director, USC Molinaroli College of Engineering & Computing
Scott Sidener
Chief Engineer - Digital, Data & Artificial Intelligence, Westinghouse
chad eaton
Director, Governmental Affairs, Nucor
Ken Canavan
President, E4Carolinas
Meg Kinnard
National Politics Reporter, AP
Jamie Smyth
US Energy Editor, Financial Times
Thomas Limehouse
Former General Counsel, Governor McMaster
Ethel Bunch
Founder, Palmetto Nuclear Coalition
Jim blankenhorn
Senior Vice President, Amentum
John Cogan
Centerview Partners
Jonathan Stephens
Core Design Manager, Advanced Technologies, BWXT
dr. Tim Hardee
President, South Carolina Technical College System
DR. Musa Danjaji, Ph.D.
Professor & Chair, Department of Engineering, Academic Program Coordinator, Nuclear Engineering Program, South Carolina State University
DR. Lindsay Shuller-Nickles, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, Clemson University
Summit Sponsorship
SPONSORSHIP REQUEST
The University of South Carolina’s Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, in partnership with Santee Cooper and the Palmetto Nuclear Coalition, invites your organization to serve as a valued sponsor for South Carolina’s 2nd Annual Nuclear Summit — a pivotal event highlighting South Carolina’s leadership in nuclear innovation, workforce development, and industrial competitiveness.
SPONSORSHIPS
Presenting Sponsor — SOLD OUT
Premier Sponsor — $35,000
Recognition in all event materials (invite, website, program, and presentation decks).
Opportunity to moderate a panel session.
Digital Visibility: Link to a full-page ad or company profile on the Summit website.
6 complimentary registrations.
Platinum Sponsor — $25,000
Recognition in all event materials (invite, website, program, and presentation decks).
Acknowledgment from the podium during program transitions.
4 complimentary registrations
Lunch Sponsor — SOLD OUT
Networking Breakfast Sponsor — $17,500 (1 available)
Opportunity to display branded materials or giveaways during breakfast
Recognition in all Summit collateral and signage.
3 complimentary registrations.
Silver Sponsor — $15,000
Recognition in all event materials (invite, website, program, and presentation decks).
Acknowledgment from the podium during program transitions.
3 complimentary registrations.
Bronze Sponsor — $10,000
Recognition in all event materials (invite, website, program, and presentation decks).
Acknowledgment from the podium during program transitions.
2 complimentary registrations.
Partner Sponsor — $5,000
Recognition in all event materials (invite, website, program, and presentation decks).
2 complimentary registrations.
Become a sponsor
Use the contact form or reach out directly to info@palmettonuclear.org.
