As South Carolina emerges as a global leader in nuclear energy, federal and statewide elected officials, and industry leaders joined more than 350 attendees at Colonial Life Arena Tuesday for the 2nd Annual SC Nuclear Summit. The event was hosted by the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC). 

Presented by Palmetto Nuclear Coalition and Santee Cooper, the summit featured several panelists and special guests, including South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, U.S. Representative Russell Fry, South Carolina House of Representatives Speaker Murrell Smith and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chair David Wright.

“There is bipartisan support for nuclear energy and a broad consensus that nuclear will meet the state’s long term energy needs,” says South Carolina Senator Tom Davis, who was one of the panelists. 

Speakers from the MCEC included Dean Hossein Haj-Hariri; Travis Knight, Department of Mechanical Engineering Chair and nuclear engineering program director; Alex Molinaroli, MCEC alum, namesake of the college’s endowment and former CEO of Johnson Controls; and Vice Admiral Paul Gaffney, counselor to the dean. 

“Our state’s premier nuclear innovation, paired with our college’s academic leadership in research and education, marks an exciting time for our state,” says Haj-Hariri. “As we commit to educating the next generation of energy leaders, this annual gathering showcases how the power of partnership energizes our state’s nuclear future.” 

According to Haj-Hariri, hosting the summit was a perfect example of how the college establishes collaborations and partnerships with industry.

“We work on applied projects, which means we have a deep mastery of fundamentals so that we know what problems need to be solved,” says Haj-Hariri. “Then we talk with clients, industry and the state to determine the areas of need and together we find solutions.” 

The summit was held one day after a $2.7 billion agreement to transfer control of Santee Cooper’s unfinished nuclear reactors at V.C. Summer in Jenkinsville, South Carolina to private investment group Brookfield. During the summit, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC  revealed a study that found that during construction at V.C. Summer, the plant will generate $7.3 billion and 7,300 jobs for the state’s economy.

This year’s summit included topics on national energy trends, artificial intelligence’s role in next-generation technology, how public–private partnerships are driving the nuclear resurgence, and the role of the state’s industrial base in leading the nation’s nuclear revival. South Carolina is home to world-class energy assets, including the Savannah River National Laboratory in Aiken, and the Westinghouse Fuel Fabrication Facility in Columbia. 

“It was inspiring to see stakeholders from industry, government, universities, and technical colleges come together to address the full spectrum of needs for developing the next generation of clean nuclear power in South Carolina and to help lead the nation,” says Adel Nasiri, the Thomas L. Gregory Endowed Professor from the MCEC Department of Electrical Engineering.

“It’s exciting to see the incredible trajectory South Carolina is on and how it will continue to attract industries and bring great opportunities to our state, especially as more Fortune 500 companies establish a presence in Columbia,” says Randale Pete, a senior computer engineering major at the University of South Carolina, who attended the summit.

The gathering of energy leaders, elected officials and academic and business leaders for conversations on nuclear advancement underscores South Carolina’s unified commitment to advancing nuclear energy for global competitiveness and long-term economic growth.

“We are grateful for all of the key leaders and stakeholders who champion our state as a leader in both large-scale and next-generation nuclear technologies,” says Ethel Bunch, Founder of Palmetto Nuclear Coalition. “Each year, we look forward to this summit serving as a convening hub to celebrate the progress South Carolina has made and how our transformative energy advancements expand global competitiveness of the U.S. industrial base, strengthen national security, and power the resources in our local community that we rely on every day.”

Knight added that clean nuclear power in South Carolina is increasing to meet the needs of a growing population and industry. 

“The Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing has the people, ideas, students and graduates to meet the need for the current expansion as well as the more advanced technologies to follow,” Knight says. “It is a great day in South Carolina.”

“We had about four times as many people with higher levels of engagement than last year’s summit,” says Haj-Hariri. “It's wonderful to see the participation and engagement, and I truly believe that South Carolina will be at the epicenter of nuclear resurgence for the U.S.”