In the Spotlight: Justin Maierhofer

Morning, friends - Logan here. I hope you all enjoyed the cooler weather we had this weekend and spent some time outside.

We’re diving back into the energy sector for this episode - covering a major story coming out of our region. The Tennessee Valley Authority just became the first utility in the U.S. to move a small modular reactor (SMR) construction permit into formal review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. It’s a historic first and it’s happening right in our region.

To help break it all down, I sat down with Justin Maierhofer, Senior VP of Government Relations at TVA and a key player in this milestone. He also represents TVA on the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority, which has been quietly working to position our state for nuclear energy leadership in the coming years.

Why is this so important?
Because energy is the foundation of everything - especially in the AI and electrification era we’re entering. Whether it’s data centers, manufacturing, or EV infrastructure, energy is the bottleneck. And nuclear is one of the only scalable, clean, and reliable solutions on the table.

I believe Kentucky, with its deep industrial roots and underutilized coal infrastructure, has a rare opportunity to lead. But we need to understand the technologies, the policy landscape, and the players involved. This episode is meant to help you do just that.

What We Discussed:

How TVA made nuclear history
Justin walks us through the Clinch River SMR project, the first of its kind in the U.S. to reach this stage in NRC review, and what it means for national energy strategy.

The promise of small modular reactors
We talk about why SMRs - like GE’s BWRX-300 - could finally deliver on nuclear’s potential: factory-built, cost-efficient, and easier to deploy than traditional plants.

The case for nuclear in Kentucky
Through the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority, the state is beginning to explore nuclear seriously - especially as a way to reuse legacy coal sites and build workforce pipelines.

How AI is redefining electricity demand
From hyperscalers to industrial growth, the demand for electricity is surging. Justin explains why nuclear is essential to meeting that demand reliably and affordably.

Lessons from the past, and a roadmap for the future
We dive into what TVA is doing differently: applying lessons from past megaprojects like Vogtle, and partnering with federal agencies and tech giants to share risk and accelerate deployment.

Listen to the episode on Spotify

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts

We hope you enjoy this episode! If you have any thoughts after listening, feel free to shoot me a message at [email protected]

Have a great week, friends!

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