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Course Details

Course Information
  • smart_display Format

    Live Online with Live Q&A

  • signal_cellular_alt Difficulty Level

    Intermediate

  • work Practice Area

    Energy

Date & Time
  • event Date

    Thursday, July 24, 2025

  • schedule Time

    1:00 PM E.T.

  • timer Program Length

    90 minutes

Credit Information

  • This 90-minute webinar is eligible in most states for 1.5 CLE credits.

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MSRP
$347.00
$297.00
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Discount expires 7/8/25

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CLE
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This CLE webinar will examine opportunities and challenges in nuclear energy through the lens of the impact of recent executive orders and regulatory changes on the nuclear and data center industries. The expert panel will provide an in-depth look at the new policies, the potential legal and operational issues created for stakeholders, and the risks of compliance and noncompliance where the directives intersect with existing federal and state laws.

Faculty

M.C. Hammond
Counsel
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Ms. Hammond has been practicing nuclear energy law for nearly 10 years at both Pillsbury and the Department of Energy (DOE). She recently returned to Pillsbury from the DOE, where she advised on over $2.9 billion in nuclear loans and awards within the past three years. As the lead nuclear regulatory counsel for DOE’s Loans Program Office, Ms. Hammond advised the Department on the $1.52 billion loan guarantee for the first-of-a-kind restart of the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station. She was also nuclear regulatory counsel for the DOE’s Civil Nuclear Credit Program’s $1.1 billion award to Diablo Canyon Power Plant, including extensive advice on National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) issues. Ms. Hammond also co-led the development of a groundbreaking $300 million Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program award for Kairos Power at the DOE.

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Description

Recent executive orders issued by the Trump administration aim to reduce regulatory burdens on the nuclear industry and promote investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and energy infrastructure. These orders, along with significant legal decisions and regulatory developments, are reshaping the landscape for nuclear projects and data centers.

The executive orders include directives to streamline government spending, promote American leadership in AI and energy, and establish the National Energy Dominance Council. Additionally, a joint venture named Stargate plans to invest $500 billion in AI infrastructure, including data centers co-located with electric generation facilities.

In Cotter Corp. N.S.L. v. United States (Fed. Cir. Feb. 10, 2025), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit expanded government-backed indemnification under the Price-Anderson Act (PAA) for the nuclear fuel cycle, broadening the scope to include any person involved in DOE contracts. Additionally, recent legislative and regulatory changes aim to facilitate the deployment of new nuclear technologies like small modular reactors. However, significant regulatory barriers and uncertainties remain, particularly regarding the co-location of data centers with new generation facilities. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has not yet established clear regulatory pathways for co-location, leading to challenges in implementation.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is actively implementing these executive orders, with initiatives to modernize licensing for new nuclear technologies and lower fees. The DOE is also exploring ways to reuse brownfield sites for new nuclear projects, further promoting the development of nuclear energy.

Listen as our expert panel provides an in-depth look at the recent executive orders and regulatory changes impacting the nuclear and data center industries. The panel will examine the new policies, potential risks, and best practices for navigating this evolving regulatory landscape.

Outline

I. Overview of recent executive orders and regulatory changes

II. Executive orders and industry investments 

A. Directives to reduce regulatory burdens and promote investments

B. Joint venture investments in AI infrastructure and data centers

III. Cotter Corp. N.S.L. v. United States

IV. Regulatory developments and DOE initiatives 

A. Legislative and regulatory changes to facilitate nuclear technology deployment

B DOE's role in implementing the executive orders

V. Co-location of data centers and generation facilities 

A. Benefits and challenges of co-locating data centers with nuclear generation

B. Regulatory barriers and FERC's role

VI. Impact on stakeholders 

A. Legal and operational issues

B. Strategies for compliance and adaptation

Benefits

The panel will review these and other key considerations:

  • What are the executive orders and regulatory changes with the greatest impact on the nuclear industry?
  • What are the likely implications of the expanded scope of government-backed indemnification under the PAA?
  • What are the long-term implications of the new policies on the nuclear and data center industries?
  • What are best practices for guiding clients through the compliance challenges created by the new regulatory landscape?