Nuclear Energy: An Emerging Issue Forum

Agenda

Day 1 - April 13, 2026

Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center | 222 S 22nd St. Laramie, WY 82070

8:00-9:00am: Hot Breakfast and Registration

9:00-9:20am: Welcome

Why Nuclear and Why Wyoming? 

• Sean Schaub, Nuclear Industry Coordinator, Wyoming Energy Authority
• Tara Righetti, Co-director, Nuclear Energy Research Center, University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources

9:20-9:45am: Story Circle

What is a formative memory or experience you have around nuclear?

9:45-10:30am: Presentation + Q&A

Nuclear history and legacies

• Christine King, Director, Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear, Idaho National Laboratory
• Jonathan Grams, Project Researcher, Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear, Idaho National Laboratory

10:30-10:45am: Break

10:45-11:30pm: Presentation + Q&A

Radiation and Nuclear Fuel Cycle Overview

• Liane Moreau, Assistant Professor of Chemistry, University of Wyoming College of Engineering and Physical Sciences

11:30-12:30pm: Presentations + Q&A

Uranium Milling and Mining: State of the industry and regulation

• Matthew Gili, President, Ur-Energy
• Brandi O'Brien, Land Quality Administrator, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality

12:30-1:30pm: Buffet Lunch

1:30-2:30pm: Panel + Q&A

Economic development opportunities across and beyond the fuel cycle

• Moderator: Sean Schaub, Nuclear Industry Coordinator, Wyoming Energy Authority
• Brent Berg, Senior Vice President, US Operations, Uranium Energy Corp
• Will Cayton, BANR Business Manager, BWXT
• Rita Meyer, CEO, Wyoming Energy Futures
• Mike Wandler, President, L&H Industrial 

2:30-2:45pm: Break

2:45-3:45pm: Presentation + Panel

High Level Waste: Understanding the regulatory ecosystem

• Presenter and Moderator: Tara Righetti, Co-director, Nuclear Energy Research Center, University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources
• Jenny Staeben, Industrial Siting Administrator, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality
• Christina England, Attorney-Advisor, US Department of Energy

3:45-4:30pm: Panel

Collaborating with Communities: A preview of Day 2 discussions on engagement and planning

• Rachael Budowle, Collegiate Associate Professor, Virginia Tech Honors College
• Jennifer Richter, Associate Professor, Arizona State University School for the Future of Innovation in Society
• Panelist 3

4:30-6:30pm: Public Reception and "Science Fair"

Explore hands-on, interactive learning opportunities about the nuclear fuel cycle while enjoying appetizers and a cash bar. Activities include the Idaho National Lab Nuclear Science Trailer and more. This event does not require forum registration to attend. 

Optional: Dinner at Altitude Chophouse & Brewery

320 S 2nd St, Laramie, WY 82070 | Back room reserved under "Nuclear Forum"

Starting at 6:30pm and continuing through the evening, connect with other forum attendees and keep the conversation going with a buy-your-own dinner at Altitude Chophouse & Brewery in downtown Laramie.

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Day 2 - April 14, 2026

Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center | 222 S 22nd St. Laramie, WY 82070

8:00-9:00am: Hot Breakfast

9:00-10:30am: Concurrent workshop sessions - Social legitimacy and community visioning

This multi-part morning session will focus on why building social legitimacy is critical to successful development and explore a variety of strategies and frameworks for facilitating genuine community engagement. Each session begin with brief kickoff presentations sharing the results from research on community engagement around nuclear, then participants will practice a hands-on community engagement activity. These strategies should be equally useful to industries interested in community engagement, elected officials, and community organizations or citizens groups.

• Salon A: Community conversations about big decisions: Lessons from public forums across Arizona about nuclear waste management
  • Kickoff presentation: Jennifer Richter, Associate Professor, Arizona State University School for the Future of Innovation in Society

• Salon B/C: Engaging communities in advanced nuclear energy facility siting: Lessons from a case study of the Natrium project in Kemmerer, Wyoming
  • Kickoff presentation: Rachael Budowle, Collegiate Associate Professor, Virginia Tech Honors College

• Salon D/E: To be announced

10:30-10:45am: Break

10:45-12:00pm: Concurrent workshop sessions - Action planning

Following the morning sessions, participants will be asked to identify what community conversations need to happen around nuclear development in Wyoming, then will self-select into facilitated small groups tasked with figuring out what it would take to move those conversations forward. Participants may, for example, coalesce around a particular proposed project, a specific geographic area, a part of the fuel cycle, or different ways to support these conversations through funding, capacity-building, or toolkits. Because these sessions will be driven by small-group discussions, please come prepared to participate. 

12:00-1:00pm: Buffet Lunch

1:00-2:30pm: Concurrent workshop sessions - Planning for responsible economic development

These afternoon sessions will address key considerations for after a community has decided to pursue, or be open to, development. It will include attention to what industry might provide to communities as well as what communities might provide to industry. Like the morning, the sessions will begin with brief kickoff presentations, then participants will self-select into facilitated small groups tasked with imagining what this means for their communities, or moving the needle on identified barriers and opportunities. Because these sessions will be driven by small-group discussions, please come prepared to participate.

• Salon A: Workforce development: How Wyoming can take advantage of nuclear industry jobs, and grow our workforce to attract further development
  • Crystal Reyes, Dean of Manufacturing, Industrial Technology, and Workforce Development, Western Wyoming Community College
  • Selena Gerace, Program Manager, Energy Engagement, Leadership, and Careers Program, UW School of Energy Resources

• Salon B/C: Growing resilient communities: Preparing to offset impacts and secure long-run benefits from new economic development 
  • Grete Gansauer, Assistant Professor of Sustainable Communities, UW Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources

• Salon D/E: Wyoming's nuclear supply chain: Economic benefits and barriers across the nuclear energy fuel cycle
  • Alexander Charles Gebben, Energy Economist, UW Center for Business and Economic Analysis

2:30-2:45: Break

2:45-3:45pm: Takeaways panel and final commitments 

4:00-6:00pm: Joint reception with the Rocky Mountain Land and Resource Management Conference

The Student Chapter for Energy Resources will host a joint networking reception sponsored by the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences, and Natural Resources. The reception will include a book signing by the authors of Creative Destruction, David Prescott and Michael Ashley, and a raffle to support the student club. The Rocky Mountain Land and Resource Management Conference, co-convened by the School of Energy Resources and the College of Agriculture, Life Sciences, and Natural Resources, will take place the following day, April 15, at the Gateway Center. 

Conference website and press release. 

Thank you to our sponsors

 

U235 Sponsor ($5000)

 

Uf6 Sponsors ($2,500)

 

Yellowcake sponsors ($1,000)