The Atlantic Council—in partnership with the Idaho National Laboratory and Louisiana State University—was pleased to host the Frontiers Project Meeting on Friday, March 28, 2025.
The state of Louisiana provides a substantial foundation for domestic chemical and fuel production. Louisiana accounts for about 36 percent of US chemical manufacturing, about 17 percent of US refined fuels, and over 60 percent of US liquefied natural gas exports. Louisiana is also becoming a major development home for advanced data centers. Louisiana’s energy-intensive industrial base, its infrastructure, and its workforce play a major role in the economic security of the United States; as Louisiana’s economy goes, so goes the security of the United States, and energy is central to this industrial reality.
Providing energy in this key industrial state is of particular concern as significantly greater quantities of heat and electricity are needed while the security, reliability, affordability, and emissions characteristics of that energy increasingly matter. As such, Louisiana is at the forefront of a national and global race for innovation in energy generation and delivery. This new global frontier of energy innovation is driving a new frontier in global economic competition; a competition the United States must win, and Louisiana can lead.
The Louisiana Frontiers Project Meeting looks at the role advanced nuclear energy technologies can play in Louisiana’s manufacturing sector as the state expands its economic production and secures US leadership in the new frontier of global economic competition. Watch the recorded livestream above to view the event!
Speakers
agenda
*All times in local CT time.
9:00–9:30 a.m. | Keynote remarks
Eric Skrmetta, Public Service Commissioner, Louisiana Public Service Commission
9:30–10:00 a.m. | Fireside chat: Louisiana as an economic engine for the nation
Dustin Davidson, Deputy Secretary, Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources
Stephen Swiber, Chief Resilience Officer, Office of Governor Jeff Landry, State of Louisiana
MODERATED BY
Greg Upton, Executive Director and Associate Research Professor, Center for Energy Studies, Louisiana State University
10:00–10:30 a.m. | Break
10:30–11:15 a.m. | Panel I: A strategic nuclear energy framework for first-mover states
The Hon. Aurelia Giacometto, Secretary, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
Shannon Bragg-Sitton, Associate Laboratory Director, Energy and Environment Science and Technology, Idaho National Laboratory
Jeremy Pearson, Director, San Rafael Energy Research Center
Rob Creager, Executive Director, Wyoming Energy Authority
MODERATED BY
John Kotek, Senior Vice President of Policy Development and Public Affairs, Nuclear Energy Institute
11:15 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Panel II: Industrial applications and new business models for nuclear energy technologies
Randell Attuso, Director of Business Development, Cajun Industries
Desiree Lemoine, Campaign Manager, Industry Makes
Amy Odom, Site Development and Technology Leader, BASF
Mike Wandler, President, L&H Industrial
MODERATED BY
Richard Boardman, Directorate Fellow and US Department of Energy Integrated Systems Program Director, Idaho National Laboratory
12:00–1:00 p.m. | Lunch
1:00–1:45 p.m. | Panel III: Risks and opportunities of new global competitive landscape
George David Banks, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council Global Energy Center
Phillip May, President and Chief Executive Officer, Entergy Louisiana LLC
Chris Young, Chief Strategy Officer, ElementUSA
MODERATED BY
Jennifer Gordon, Director, Nuclear Energy Policy Initiative, Atlantic Council
1:45–2:15 p.m. | Break
2:15–3:00 p.m. | Panel IV: National security and the military use case
John Borland, Command Engineer’s Innovation Chief, US SOCOM; Researcher, Texas A&M University
Dylan Enright, Head of Federal Engagement, Radiant
Dee Mewbourne, Chief Executive Officer, Quadrant Nuclear Industries
Joseph Miller, President, BWXT Advanced Technologies LLC
MODERATED BY
Gary Dylewski, Major General (Retired), United States Air Force
3:00–3:45 p.m. | Panel V: Innovation and the regulatory landscape
Amy Roma, Partner and Global Energy Practice Leader, Hogan Lovells
Eric Skrmetta, Public Service Commissioner, Louisiana Public Service Commission
Paul Kjellander, Former Member, Idaho Public Utilities Commission
MODERATED BY
Laura Beauchamp, Vice President, Business Operations and Strategy, Entergy Louisiana
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