America’s nuclear renaissance is gaining momentum, but new nuclear power plants can take around a decade to build. With electricity demand rising and the grid under pressure, what can the energy industry do now to deliver reliable, affordable power?
In this episode of the Clean Power Hour, host Tim Montague speaks with Cortney Piper, founder and executive director of the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council and president of Piper Communications.
They explore Tennessee’s growing advanced energy economy, the role of solar and storage in meeting near-term electricity demand, and the policy decisions needed to accelerate power generation while maintaining grid reliability.
Cortney also discusses the importance of technology-neutral energy policy, support for emerging companies, and turning energy innovation into economic development and job creation.
In this conversation, you’ll learn:
Why Tennessee is positioning itself as a hub for America’s nuclear renaissance and advanced energy innovation.
How the Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council supports businesses, entrepreneurs, and emerging technologies.
Why solar and energy storage could help meet electricity demand while new nuclear projects move forward.
How fusion energy, nuclear fuel recycling, carbon capture, and advanced materials fit into the evolving energy landscape.
Why the industry needs practical policies that expand grid capacity, strengthen reliability, and keep electricity costs manageable.
How Tennessee is working to address the power infrastructure challenges facing utilities, businesses, and growing energy users.
Cortney’s central message is that the energy industry cannot rely on future nuclear capacity alone. It must also identify the resources that can be deployed quickly, manage the grid more effectively, and deliver reliable power at an affordable cost today.
If you work in solar, storage, nuclear, utilities, energy policy, or advanced manufacturing, this conversation offers a useful look at how innovation and policy can shape the next phase of the energy transition.
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Connect with Cortney Piper
Website: https://tnadvancedenergy.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cortneypiper/?isSelfProfile=false
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The Clean Power Hour is produced by the Clean Power Consulting Group and created by Tim Montague. Contact us by email: CleanPowerHour@gmail.com
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