The Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance recently held its quarterly Business at Breakfast event, bringing together industry experts to delve into Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin's 2022 Virginia Energy Plan and the region's pivotal role in driving its execution.

With the Lynchburg region boasting major nuclear power players like BWXT and Framatome, as well as prominent power transformer manufacturer Delta Star, the panel explored the plan's focus on establishing a nuclear innovation hub and deploying commercial small modular reactors in southwest Virginia in the next decade.

Esteemed panelists included Gary Mignogna, CEO of Framatome; April Wade, executive director of the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium (VNEC); Jason Greene, CEO/President of Delta Star Inc.; and Larry Jackson, Director of Government Affairs at Appalachian Power. Megan Lucas, CEO of the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance, underscored the region's vital position within the energy industry, expressing excitement about the potential for energy innovation and the opportunity for local companies to lead the way. The event also shed light on BWXT's support for nuclear manufacturing and Delta Star's expansion plans, which involve the creation of new jobs and the bolstering of the essential power transformer sector. The panel emphasized the critical role played by both nuclear power and power transformers in Virginia's energy mix, with nuclear sources contributing 95% of clean energy and power transformers being a key component of the electricity infrastructure.

Overall, the Business at Breakfast event showcased the Lynchburg region's significant contribution to Virginia's energy landscape, with a particular focus on nuclear power and power transformers. The collaboration between industry leaders, educational institutions, and government entities positions the region for continued growth and workforce development to meet the evolving demands of the energy sector.

Source: business.lynchburgregion.org