Authority members discuss strategic plan, workforce partnerships and SMR commercialization process

Members discussed the authority’s strategic plan draft, workforce development efforts and updates on small modular reactor (SMR) procurement work.

A staff presenter reported work on a strategic plan intended to guide the authority’s priorities over the next four years. Staff said the draft will be circulated to members, who were asked to return comments directly to April (staff contact). The presenter said stakeholder review — including the governor’s office and university and industry partners — would be incorporated and that the authority aims for final approval at the next meeting.

Workforce initiatives drew sustained attention. Staff and board members described an industry‑college working group that includes industry representatives, community colleges, labor unions and economic‑development staff. The working group is exploring apprenticeship and training pipelines, trying to anticipate long‑term workforce demand tied to advanced reactor development and other grid needs. Participants noted the need to engage local trades and to model scenarios that reflect both steady state and accelerated deployment of new reactors.

Jeff Witt gave a 90‑day outlook after taking a leadership role (introduced to the group) and described anchor projects staff are evaluating: research testbeds, materials‑science collaboration among universities, and predictive workforce analyses to inform training capacity. Witt said Virginia has a substantial “nuclear pedigree” in suppliers, utilities and universities and framed his near‑term focus as building credible project pipelines and communications.

Dominion Energy representatives reported ongoing major plant upgrades at its four Virginia reactors and said the company is investing more than $1 billion across upgrades at each reactor over the coming years. Dominion said it is also evaluating responses to a previous SMR request for proposals and expects to select a technology in 2025; it is working with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and industry to define site permit and licensing processes for SMRs.

Procedure note and meeting action: members moved to approve the previous meeting’s minutes. A motion was made and seconded; the record in the meeting audio indicates the motion carried by voice vote but no roll‑call tally was recorded in the transcript.

Why this matters: the authority’s strategic plan will guide program priorities for workforce, innovation and siting; Dominion’s SMR procurement and the utility’s major plant upgrade program will shape regional grid investments and local supply‑chain demand.