The Atlantic Council—in partnership with the Idaho National Laboratory and Louisiana State University—is pleased to host the Frontiers Project Meeting on Friday, March 28th, 2025 at 9:00 AM CT at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center, Louisiana. 

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 will look at the potential for advanced nuclear energy technologies to play a role in Louisiana’s manufacturing sector as Louisiana expands its economic production and secures United States leadership in the new frontier of global economic competition.  

agenda

*All times in local CT time.

8:00–8:50 a.m. | Breakfast 

8:50–9:00 a.m. | MOU Signing 

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

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. | Networking Break

10:30–11:15 a.m. | Panel I: A strategic nuclear energy framework for first-mover states

Shannon Bragg-Sitton, Associate Laboratory Director, Energy and Environment Science and Technology, Idaho National Laboratory

The Hon. Aurelia Giacometto, Secretary, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)

John Kotek, Senior Vice President of Policy Development and Public Affairs, Nuclear Energy Institute

Jeremy Pearson, Director, San Rafael Energy Research Center

MODERATED BY

Jennifer Gordon, Director, Nuclear Energy Policy Initiative, Atlantic Council

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

Christine Harbin, Climate and Energy Policy Advisor, Office of US Senator William Cassidy (R-LA)

Phillip May, President and Chief Executive Officer, Entergy Louisiana LLC

Chris Young, Chief Strategy Officer, ElementUSA

MODERATED BY

George David Banks, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council Global Energy Center

1:45–2:15 p.m. | Networking 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

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

3:45–6:00 p.m. | Closing Reception

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