UNCW Joins Nuclear Workforce Initiative

UNCW is participating in a collaborative multi-institution project to underscore nuclear power’s role in a clean-energy future and to build a new wave of skilled nuclear workers, from tradespeople to engineers.  

The Consortium for Reactor Safety Training (CRεST), led by North Carolina State University, includes multiple university partners in seven southeastern U.S. states, community colleges, K-12 education, national labs and industries that engage in or benefit from nuclear energy production.  

"UNCW is uniquely positioned to lead in building the next generation of nuclear professionals because of our strong foundation in engineering, paired with deep partnerships across industry and the region,” said Ron Vetter, dean of the College of Science and Engineering.  

“We have both the responsibility and the opportunity to connect talented students to meaningful careers that support a reliable, carbon-free energy future." 

The university will take the lead in forming partnerships with community colleges and regional industries, specifically GE Vernova in Wilmington and Duke Energy, to entice more students to consider careers in the nuclear industry and to build support for one of the leading clean-energy resources available. 

The five-year project will be funded by the Department of Energy, which projects that 235,000 new workers will be needed by 2035 to support new and existing reactors, a number that could grow to 375,000 by 2050. 

“The call came out for strategies to strengthen the nuclear workforce pipeline,” said Amy Reamer, UNCW coordinator of engineering programs and a primary author of the proposal. “The need extends far beyond nuclear engineering and nuclear technology. The industry also needs mechanical engineers, intelligent systems engineers, computing and automation specialists, and skilled trades professionals such as machinists, welders, electricians and pipefitters. As more advanced reactors and energy facilities come online, there will be growing demand for people who can design, build, operate and maintain these complex systems.” 

Community college partnerships and a robust effort in K-12 education to promote those career fields are key to building a sustainable workforce. E4 Carolinas, a Charlotte-based energy trade organization, estimates the annual economic impact of nuclear energy at $4.8 billion in North Carolina alone, with more than 15,000 jobs in the state tied to the industry. 

Southeastern North Carolina is home to Duke Energy’s Brunswick Nuclear Plant as well as several industries focused on nuclear energy. GE Vernova is building small modular reactors that are more cost-effective to build and operate than the previous generation of nuclear facilities.  

Reamer hopes UNCW can be a catalyst to bolster North Carolina’s position as a hub for clean-energy innovation and jobs that will continue to grow even as artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent in business and industry. 

“These are good-paying, sustainable jobs,” she said. “AI cannot replace those workers.”