Authority approves updated strategic plan to guide Virginia nuclear development

The authority approved an updated strategic plan to guide Virginia’s nuclear policy, workforce and industry development at its second‑quarter meeting, voting to finalize the document after staff agreed to incorporate final edits and any substantive agency feedback.

The plan, described by presenters as an update to the four‑year strategy that guided earlier activity, lays out priorities in policy development, industry growth, workforce development and research support. The authority’s approval authorizes staff to forward the draft to Virginia Energy and state agencies for finalization and to begin broader distribution to legislators and stakeholders, unless substantial changes are later requested.

Why it matters: Members said the updated strategy reflects a materially different electricity and industry landscape than when the first plan was prepared and will serve as a common playbook for lawmakers, industry and economic‑development partners as Virginia responds to growing electricity demand and new advanced‑nuclear activity.

What the authority approved The authority moved to approve the strategic plan with the condition that staff incorporate substantive edits and agency feedback. The motion passed by voice vote; the meeting record does not include a roll‑call tally in the transcript. Members said they expect only clarifying or factual changes before public release.

Members also approved the minutes from the prior meeting by voice vote during the session.

Key updates discussed - VPIP grants and Benhub: Presenters reported a recently awarded VPIP grant to an entity referred to in the meeting as “Benhub” to support planning for a research reactor and for work on a Virginia Center for Nuclear Materials Reliability. The transcript records the award amount as “1,200,000,000” as spoken during the meeting; meeting presenters did not provide further written documentation of that figure in the transcript and the amount was not independently verified in the meeting record. The transcript identifies Jeff Witt as the staff member who will oversee the project work discussed.

- Research reactor planning: Staff described a phased approach for a ‘‘Virginia research and education facility’’ intended to produce a roadmap, budget and recommendations about siting and technical requirements. Presenters emphasized that the facility name is intentionally general so as not to presuppose a single reactor technology.

- Virginia Center for Nuclear Materials Reliability: The authority described a planning project intended to coordinate university research and industry work on materials for advanced reactors, citing Virginia’s longer‑term materials and manufacturing capabilities.

- Workforce and outreach: Staff outlined a series of one‑on‑one outreach events (in Lynchburg, Hampton Roads, Wise and virtual sessions starting in late August and continuing monthly through December) and an expanding workforce consortium of community colleges, industry, labor and economic‑development stakeholders. Members said the consortium has about 60 members and will inform a workforce plan expected to be ready for a future meeting.

- Federal policy and market context: Presenters summarized recent White House executive orders that direct federal agencies to study workforce and regulatory issues for advanced nuclear; authority members and staff discussed the potential implications but cautioned that many federal directives require further agency implementation and resources before their full effects are clear.

- Regulatory and financing environment: Staff highlighted ongoing federal proposals, tax‑credit discussions in Congress and the World Bank’s recent announcement lifting its ban on financing nuclear projects as developments that could affect export markets and financing for new projects.

Clarifications on grant distribution process A member identified as Glenn clarified the state’s approach to distributing VPIP funds: the Office of the Attorney General, he said, does not allow direct noncompetitive transfers to the authority’s program partner (referred to in the meeting as “VinHub” in various forms). As a result, Glenn said, the state is issuing competitive grant solicitations for VPIP funds and that awards made to organizations followed that competitive process.

Member actions, next steps and public distribution The authority instructed staff to incorporate final edits and agency feedback and to circulate the finalized strategic plan to legislators and other stakeholders. The chair asked members to submit any remaining comments to staff by the end of the week; staff said they would circulate a final draft on state and authority websites when state‑agency review is complete.

Other business and member notes Presenters noted ongoing project work at George Mason University — an SMR control‑room simulator funded through a state innovation bank was described as installed and operational — and mentioned planned fall events and a summit tied to the research‑reactor planning effort. One long‑serving board member, Jean, announced this meeting would be her last and members thanked her for her service.

Ending Authority members said the updated strategic plan will be used as a common reference in future legislative and outreach work and that staff will return with implementation details and any items that would require further authority review.