42 - Brad Williams - The Bottleneck in America's Nuclear Fuel Supply

Brad Williams, the former DOE, Senate, and national lab policy leader who helped write the law ending Russian uranium imports, explains exactly where the fuel cycle is fragile and what has to happen next. Dominique Cooper talks with Brad about the hidden weak link in nuclear fuel security, why conversion—not just mining or enrichment—may be the most overlooked choke point, and how a single missing step can stall the entire system. Brad breaks down the nuclear fuel cycle in plain English, from uranium in the ground to fuel rods in a reactor, so listeners can finally understand what “front end” and “back end” really mean. Brad also shares what his move from government into Uranium Energy Corp really means in practice, from helping expand domestic production in Texas and Wyoming to shaping the policy, permitting, and supply chain strategy needed to get new capacity online faster. If you care about energy security, national security, advanced reactors, or where the next generation of nuclear jobs will come from, this conversation shows why fuel supply is now just as important as reactor design. It is a rare inside look at the policy, industry, and technical decisions that will determine whether the U.S. can actually close the nuclear loop. About Brad Williams Bradley Williams is Vice President of Government Affairs at Uranium Energy Corp., where he works to strengthen the domestic nuclear fuel supply chain and advance U.S. nuclear leadership. A recognized expert in nuclear energy policy, he also serves as Vice Chair of the American Nuclear Society’s Public Policy Committee. Previously, he held senior policy and leadership roles at Idaho National Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Senate, where he helped develop and advance major nuclear energy and fuel security legislation, including the Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act and the Nuclear Fuel Security Act. Brad holds degrees in physics from Mary Washington College and Virginia Tech and has received four Secretary of Energy Awards for his contributions to nuclear energy policy and research. www.ucanpower.org