By Valerie Gardner, Managing Partner, Nucleation Capital
October 5, 2026
There were more events covering and discussing nuclear energy at NY Climate Week 2026 than I've ever seen in any previous NY Climate Week gathering. Last year, there were four events. This year, there's been a measurable shift: there were so many events, it was impossible to get to them all—even when CEOs of your portfolio companies were speaking (we had at least eight doing so, some at multiple venues). Many of the events I attended were not even listed on the official agenda of the Climate Group but were just held simultaneously, with private invitations. Others, such at the Transition-IQ event for Institutional LPs, ended up having the topic of nuclear power raised by speakers, even when the topic wasn't formally part of the agenda. People are hearing and thinking about nuclear quite pervasively and beginning to factor in considerations for nuclear at a scale that I've never seen. We've compiled this preliminary listing to share some of the details about the events that we were aware of but even this listing is likely not entirely comprehensive.
Nuclear Symposium
Hosted by Nuclear NY and building on New York’s push for a clean energy future, the 2026 Nuclear Symposium focuses on delivering clean, safe, reliable, and affordable power at scale. For the first time, the communities, the developers, the buyers, the regulators, and the capital are in one room — because they have to be.… Rory Christian, Ekin Senlet, Elina Teplinsky, Adam Stein, Julie Kozeracki, Andrew Shaw, Kirsty Gogan, Randy Wolken, Assil Halimi (CEO of Apollo Atomics), Jake Jurewicz (CEO of Blue Energy), etc.
Event by: Nuclear New York Event duration Multiple days 03:00pm - 07:00pm, Wednesday, September 23, 2026 Wed Sep 23rd: NY City Bar Association (42 West 44 St), Thu Sep 24th: Verizon Executive...
The Atlantic Council's Nuclear Energy Policy Summit
On Tuesday, September 22 and Wednesday, September 23, from the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the Atlantic Council Nuclear Energy Policy Initiative hosted its third annual Nuclear Energy Policy Summit.
The 2026 Nuclear Energy Policy Summit surveyed dramatic changes in the domestic and global nuclear energy policy landscapes over the last year. The Summit addressed novel partnerships in the public and private sectors that will be crucial to funding and implementing new nuclear projects; the efforts of first-mover US states to deploy next-generation nuclear technologies; the role of nuclear energy in meeting increased global energy demand; and the nexus between domestic nuclear energy deployment and a robust civil nuclear export program. There were 72 listed speakers, including from government, industry, law, policy makers and representatives from other countries. Among these were the Hon. Daniel Poneman, CEO of Centrus, Kyle Nicholas, vP, Project Finance and Energy Systems, Westinghouse, Joseph Miller, President, Government Operation, BWXT, Dickson Lim, Lead, Philanthropy Advisory, Temasek Trust, The Hon. Christopher Landau, Deputy Secretary of State, US Dep. of State, Jake Jurewicz, CEO, Blue Energy, Mikal Bøe, Founder and CEO, CORE POWER, Shunondo Basu, Director of Energy Technology and Innovation, Power Team, The Rockefeller Foundation, Jacob Stedman, CEO, Blykalla, and H.E. Wojciech Wrochna, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Energy and Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure, Republic of Poland, among others.
The Nuclear Renaissance: Financing the Global Expansion
The Nuclear Renaissance: Financing the Global Expansion of Nuclear Power and Assessing its Sustainability Implications. The program will explore one of the defining capital allocation challenges of the energy transition: financing a global nuclear renaissance. After roughly four decades of stagnation, nuclear energy is undergoing a dramatic resurgence in interest and investment — driven by AI- and data-center-fueled electricity demand, de-carbonization imperatives, and renewed U.S. policy support targeting 400 GW of nuclear capacity by 2050. Yet the economics and sustainability profile of nuclear power remain hotly debated in capital markets: construction costs run into the tens of billions of dollars, timelines stretch over a decade, and financing structures are still being worked out. At the same time, smaller scale projects in the form of small modular nuclear technology, are in the early stages of development. This event will convene investors, analysts, and policy leaders shaping
The Nest Climate Campus
Featured mutliple panels and speakers from the nuclear industry, including on Monday, 9/22 on the Main Stage, Greg Piefer, Founder and CEO of SHINE Fusion and Thomas Forner, Co-Founder & CEO, Focused Energy speaking on a panel titled "A blueprint for deep tech's next decade," and on Tuesday, 9/23, Rachel Slaybaugh, General Partner at DCVC in conversation with Tori Shivanandan, President and Chief Operating Officer, of Radiant Nuclear, on "The era of new nuclear energy expansion."
Guggenheim Nuclear Conference
Guggenheim Partners, in partnership with the Nuclear Energy Insitute, hosted a full day of panels and discussion devoted to Investing in Advanced Nuclear Energy at Convene 237 Park Ave on October 1st, slightly extending the end of Climate Week. This conference, organized by Guggenheim's James Schaefer, Allen Otto and team, addressed many aspects of the current rise in nuclear activity including demand drivers, policy tailwinds and the capital formation required to accelerate development of nuclear energy. Experts discussed the novel partnerships and deal structures that are being developed to bring new projects to reality in the U.S. Public and private parnterships and underwriting frameworks, together with risk and return expectations and considerations for deploying capital across the nuclear value chain. Varying perspectives were provided by panels featuring Utilities and technology providers and the issues, opportunities and challenges involved with developing, licensing, constructing and signing offtake aggrements for nuclear power and vertical suppliers were covered. This conference included many senior members of the nuclear industry including Maria Krosnick, President and CEO of NEI, Stan Connally, Executive VP & COO of Southern Company, Colleen Wright, VP of Development for Constellation Energy, Rex Geveden, President and CEO of BWX Technologies, Todd Tinelli, CFO for Centrus Energy, Richard Springman, President of Holtec International, Will Wagner, VP, Business Development for Bechtel Power, Elina Teplinsky, Partner at Pillsbury, Julie Kozeracki, Acting CIO for U.S. DOE, Alicia Knapp, President, Nuclear Development, American Electric Power, Clay Sell, CEL of X-Energy, Stefano Buono, Founder and CEO, Newcleo. Mike Laufer, Founder and CEO of Kairos Power, Patrick Leahy, Managing Director, GE Vernova, Jacob Stedman, CEO of Blykalla, nd many others.
Transition-IQ: How Modern Fiduciaries Navigate Climate Risks and Opportunities
Transition-IQ’s annual Climate Week NYC forum led by Michael Salat, features leading experts discussing the role of policy in climate-risk disclosure, climate risk scenario planning, developing net-zero strategies and opportunities to finance climate and natural capital solutions. It’s a well-attended event and benefits from conversations between professional asset allocators actively trying to solve their investment challenges around climate and investing in the transition to a more sustainable economy. Key themes and discussions included:
- Energy Transition: How investors and corporates are thinking about the structural risk of constrained energy supply when examining energy-intensive investment opportunities (which had some discussion of nuclear energy);
- Climate Adaptation: Approaches to climate resilience by integrating adaptation strategies, sustainable investments, and systemic transition financing. What parts of climate adaptation are investable;
- Re-Industrialization: Aligning capital with emerging demand from reshoring, industrialization, and clean energy;
- Critical Mineral: Managing global mineral supply chains for biodiversity protection and contributing to social economic development.
- Water Risk: Establishing water-related investment priorities to make a positive impact on efficiency and infrastructure resilience; and more.
CleanEcon CFP Funders Convening
CleanEcon is a nonprofit, launched by the former top policy and advocacy executives from Bill Gates' Breakthrough Energy, advancing groundbreaking policy change to drive economic growth, shared prosperity, and a safe climate. The group operates at the intersection of politics, policy, the private sector and the philanthropic sector to advocate modernizing outdated rules and removing market barriers so clean firm technologies outcompete old energy sources and become the most affordable, abundant, and compelling way to power a growing economy. The group covers all types of clean energy but may have a slight bias towards addressing the needs of nuclear power. This event brought together leading philanthropic funders who support the goal of scaling clean firm power technologies so as to enable the energy transition.
The Power Gap Panel & Reception
As power demand accelerates and grid capacity comes under increasing strain, our discussion will explore the scarcity challenges facing today's energy systems and the emerging technologies poised to address them, featuring perspectives from leaders in nuclear energy and space-based power solutions.… discussion will explore the scarcity challenges facing today's energy systems and the emerging technologies poised to address them, featuring perspectives from leaders in nuclear energy and space-based power solutions.
The Age of Energy Abundance: Accelerating the Race to a Clean Energy Future
What becomes possible when clean, reliable energy is abundant rather than scarce? XPRIZE is developing a new portfolio of competitions aimed at accelerating technologies that could fundamentally expand global access to clean energy—from advanced nuclear and next-generation geothermal to fusion power. This working session will share our emerging vision for an energy prize portfolio designed to advance individual technologies and to accelerate the transition toward an energy-abundant future. Particular attention will focus on fusion: how a sequence of ambitious prizes could help shorten the path from today’s scientific and technical progress to commercial demonstration, deployment, and ultimately widespread access to fusion power around the world. Participants will be invited to help identify the most consequential technological…...
Climate action is changing: Climate leaders are becoming a lot more pragmatic
an implementation COP. But this comes with tough, pragmatic choices. What if going to 100% renewable and nuclear power drives up electricity costs, annoys voters and slows down the electrification of heating or transport? Could aiming for 90 or 95% save more carbon in the short and mid-term? Western… Part 3 of this thought leadership series focuses on the ways businesses and governments are shifting to pragmatic, practical implementation...
State Power: with Governor J.B. Pritzker
Load growth is arriving faster than capacity. Illinois repealed its nuclear moratorium, set a 2 GW target by executive order and is now working out how to put real projects in the ground without handing the bill to ratepayers. That is the question facing every state with load growth and every founder building the thing that meets it. Join Overture and leading founders and investors for an afternoon of fireside chats on firm capacity, affordability and the politics of building fast. Presented in partnership with Boundary Stone Partners and Stifel. Includes a conversation with Jake Jurewicz, Co-Found and CEO, Blue Energy in conversation with Jeff Navin, C0-Founder of Boundary Stone Partners, followed by Kitchen Table Economics, Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois, in conversation with Ben Rhodes, Former Deputy National Security Advisor. At The Malin Chelsea Events.
Q&A: Shortening the path to Future First digital infrastructure with Equinix
operational regions. However, we recognize that renewables alone are not enough. To meet rising power demands driven by electrification and AI, we adopt an “all of the above” energy strategy. This includes evaluating low-carbon solutions such as fuel cells, hydrogen and nuclear energy, alongside… In this interview with Christopher Wellise—VP, Sustainability, Equinix—we explore the strategies Equinix employs to build AI-ready data centers with a focus on sustainability, as well as the broader implications for the built environment...
The first days of Climate Week NYC – courage, the future, and the trends in our energy system
” central to energy policy for governments around the world. He laid out four trends shaping the energy system: the continued rise of solar and electric cars, the persistence of coal, renewed interest in nuclear, and how countries have responded to the energy crisis. Diesel prices, he noted… One sentiment seemed to emerge across those two days: the call for courage in the face of headwinds. Being loud. And treating the climate crisis as a security issue...
Scaling in Europe: Climate Tech and the Slovakia Advantage
As the transition to a cleaner economy accelerates, Europe is becoming an increasingly important market for climate technology, energy innovation, and sustainable infrastructure. Slovakia offers a compelling platform for this transition, combining a strong nuclear energy base, advanced industry, and a growing technology and innovation ecosystem. The program will highlight Slovak companies scaling internationally, the growing energy demands of AI and data centers, and the role of next-generation nuclear technology in Europe's clean energy future. PROGRAM 8:30 AM | Breakfast & Networking Coffee and light breakfast 9:00 AM | Introduction Vladimir Lackovič Special Representative to the U.S. for Trade and Investment, SARIO Zuzana Serinová Policy Manager, AmCham Slovakia…...
Powering the Future: Fission, Fusion and Critical Minerals
Join Ashurst Perkins Coie, Avalanche Energy and Idemitsu during Climate Week NYC 2026 as we bring together industry leaders for a discussion of the future of our energy economy: Fission, Fusion, and Critical Minerals. Through two timely panel discussions, our speakers will explore the technological advances, infrastructure developments, supply chain considerations, regulatory frameworks, and capital investments that will secure our energy independence and support a sustainable energy future. • PANEL I – Advances in Clean Energy Fission and Fusion • Keynote Address: Chris Hanson, Former Chair, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission • PANEL II – Meeting the Demand for Critical Minerals Following the panels, please join us for a networking reception where you will have the opportunity to connect with fellow attendees, panelists, and…...
11th International Conference on Global Energy Meet (GEM 2027)
their latest research and ideas. The conference will cover important topics such as renewable energy, energy storage, hydrogen, smart grids, carbon capture, nuclear energy, and other sustainable energy technologies. It also offers excellent opportunities for networking, collaboration, and discussing solutions for the global energy transition. Conference Highlights Keynote Speakers: Renowned experts from academia and industry will share their insights. Technical Sessions: Dive deep into technical topics through a series of informative sessions. Poster Sessions: Interact with researchers and view cutting-edge work in poster sessions. Networking: Connect with peers, establish collaborations, and build your professional network. Topics • Wind Power & Energy • Environmental & Pollution Issues • Hydroenergy & Hydropower Technology •……
From Capital to Capacity: Building the Next Generation of Power Infrastructure
Power demand is entering a new era. AI and hyperscale computing, advanced manufacturing, electrification and emerging technologies are creating unprecedented requirements for reliable, scalable electricity infrastructure. From Capital to Capacity brings together senior leaders across power generation, utilities and grid infrastructure, digital infrastructure, nuclear and advanced energy, private capital, finance and government to examine what it will take to meet that demand. Through a panel discussion, fireside conversation and interactive working session, the program will explore where new power capacity will come from, how quickly it can be built, how projects will be financed, and what changes in policy, infrastructure and technology are needed to accelerate deployment. Hosted by PowerStack at The Nest Campus during Climate…...
Climate Week: Investors & Founders Connect
Creating more than 1,100 direct jobs, and contributing to approximately 2,400 total jobs nationwide. Collectively, these companies have raised more than $1.24 billion in capital. To learn more, visit innovationspace.org. About Goodwin Procter Goodwin’s Climate Tech practice has the mission of supporting clients’ efforts to avert the worst consequences of the global environmental crisis by providing differentiated and highly sophisticated legal services to startups and startup investors in the climate technologies sector. Our clients are developing and scaling innovations in climate software, renewable energy, carbon capture and storage, nuclear fusion, batteries, mobility, sustainable agriculture, materials science, advanced manufacturing, plastic alternatives, and other areas. Our team is the first of its kind in the industry,…...
Energy transition: The road to scale
energy fact sheet: Wind turbines,” August 2013; US Department of Energy, “End-of-life management for solar photovoltaics,” accessed April 15, 2024; International Atomic Energy Agency, Nuclear power plant ageing and life extension: Safety aspects, April 1987. Deloitte analysis: US EPA, Report… United States Environmental Protection Agency, “ Renewable energy fact sheet: Wind turbines ,” August 2013; US Department of Energy, “ End-of-life management for solar photovoltaics ,” accessed April 15, 2024; International Atomic Energy Agency, Nuclear power plant ageing and life extension: Safety aspects , April 1987.
What’s needed to speed up the energy transition? Q&A with ABB CEO Morten Wierod
technologies that can help make the change as quickly as possible. Increasingly, the market is driving the shift towards electrification, energy efficiency and low-carbon sources of energy, like renewables and nuclear. We can and will do more to speed up the process and in doing so drive economic growth and prosperity while preserving our planet for future generations.… What’s needed to speed up the energy transition? How can industries be both competitive and sustainable? These are questions we put to Morten Wierod, CEO of ABB, a global technology leader, specializing in electrification and automation, with operations in more than 100 countries...
Anthropocene Institute
A gathering of several dozen long-time nuclear advocates and experts to share a dinner and discuss the state of nuclear, energy and climate altogether, spanning investors, ventures, policy experts, consultants, founders and philanthropic funders.
Nuclear Nuclear Night NYC
Join us for Alumni Ventures' Fourth Annual Nuclear Night NYC alongside Reveille VC and 53 Stations — a high-energy gathering at the heart of Climate Week NYC that brings together the brightest minds in nuclear innovation. This year's event will unite entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, academics, and advocates who are building the future of clean, reliable energy. Expect lively conversation, meaningful connections, and a shared commitment to powering a sustainable world. Drinks and light bites will be served. Who should attend: Founders, funders, innovators, researchers, and anyone shaping or supporting the nuclear and broader energy ecosystem. What it's about: Celebrating the momentum of nuclear energy and fostering the connections that accelerate its impact. Tuesday, September 22nd 5:00–8:00 PM New York City
Nuclear Rooftop Party
ROOFTOP NUCLEAR ⚛️ Four DJs. One rooftop. Clean, firm fun. Come split some atoms (energetically) as the sun goes down over Houston St. Climate Week’s cleanest party — powered by nuclear, fueled by bass.… Event by: Nuclear New York, Nuclear is Clean Energy Club (NiCE) Event format In-person Event duration 4 hours Language English 06:00pm - 10:00pm, Friday, September 25, 2026 331 East Houston St, Manhattan, New York, New York, 10002, United States Public event Register now ROOFTOP NUCLEAR ⚛️ Four DJs… One rooftop. Clean, firm fun. Come split some atoms (energetically) as the sun goes down over Houston…...
