A local leader said this region is positioned to become a leader in the nuclear industry, both nationally and worldwide.
It involves mission growth at SRS and the decision by Antares Industries, a California-based company that specializes in SMRs, to open an office in Aiken.
A weeklong slate of events highlighting one of the region’s largest industries kicks off on Mon., Oct. 19.
The annual Nuclear Science Week theme this year is “Exploring Careers, Education, and Workforce Opportunities.” The activities are coordinated by the Nuclear Workforce Initiative (NWI), Workforce Opportunities in Regional Careers (WORC) and the Savannah River Site Community Reuse Organization (SRSCRO).
SRSCRO president and CEO Robbie Bennett told ABD this is a national and international observance that had its start in New Mexico.
“What it is designed to do is to raise awareness of the opportunities and careers and industry related to nuclear,” he said. “It can be anything from things like Savannah River Site (SRS) to STEM education to what’s going on in the power generation world, so it really covers the gamut when you look at just the breadth of the industry.”
Activities bring together a diverse set of participants ranging from local post-secondary educational institutions in Georgia and South Carolina to SRS and Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle.
SRSCRO has been part of NWS since 2012. The goal, said Bennett, is to help people understand what is going on around the world, but especially in their own communities.
“Some communities talk about nuclear medicine. Some people talk about their DOE (Department of Energy) type campuses,” he explained. “So many of us are tied to nuclear in some way, shape, or form. Our goal is really to just raise awareness, bring our regional partners together, and create an opportunity for our region to shine.”
There will be four primary components:
- Education to demonstrate the types of training available.
- Skills will outline the specific needs to enter the workforce.
- Career options will walk participants through positions employers need to fill.
- Nuclear technology support will outline areas ranging from agriculture to space exploration that need a workforce trained in nuclear.
“Nuclear right now is in a Renaissance period, new excitement, new focus on new technologies like SMRs (Small Modular Reactors),” Bennett began. “But also, large-scale power generation like reinvigorating V.C. Summer (stalled Units 2 and 3 in Fairfield County) and new plants across the country. They’re anticipating that between now and 2050, we need 375,000 people in this industry. We haven’t done that in a long time.”
“Our region has so many assets that tie to the full life cycle of nuclear, from fuel research to the power generation, to the lab, to cleanup missions, to national security missions,” he listed. “I want our region to understand how important this is. Not only for us from an economic impact, but it’s also a matter of national security. We’re not just saying we want to do it. We are doing it and leading the nation in so many elements of it.”
A full list of activities, dates and locations is at www.CelebrateNSW.org
