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08/19/2026
USAEE Conference | Panel Spotlight: Besnainou, Lim & Shirvan on The New Economics of Nuclear
Register Today!
Panel Spotlight:
The New Economics of Nuclear:
Innovation, Investment, and Global Competition
Register today for the 2026 USAEE/IAEE North American Conference and then join us November 15—18 in Pittsburgh!
43rd USAEE North American Conference
Sunday, November 15 through Wednesday, November 18
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Pittsburgh Downtown
Reservations are also open at the conference host hotel, the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Pittsburgh Downtown at the special USAEE group rate of $159 per night.
The theme for this year's conference is DISRUPTION: The State of Energy Markets in 2026 and Beyond. Sessions will feature vital and timely topics including crude oil supply disruptions, large load growth in electricity markets, energy affordability, natural gas and LNG, nuclear, and more. Join us in Pittsburgh and hear what leading subject matter experts have to say about these and other topics, all against the backdrop of the extraordinary energy market disruptions of 2026.
“The New Economics of Nuclear: Innovation, Investment, and Global Competition” will examine how technological innovation, project economics, investment, and changing global markets are reshaping the prospects for nuclear energy. Koroush Shirvan will bring expertise in nuclear technology, reactor economics, and the economics of advanced nuclear deployment, while Eunjung Lim will address energy security, global nuclear competition, industrial policy, and supply chains. Jacques Besnainou will bring an industry perspective on commercialization, project development, investment, financing, and international partnerships. The discussion will focus on the economic conditions that determine whether new nuclear technologies can reduce costs, attract capital, compete in electricity markets, and scale from demonstration projects to commercial deployment.
Jacques Besnainou is an Executive Advisor at Westinghouse Electric Company, where he most recently served as Chief Commercial Officer and led the company’s global commercial strategy to deliver integrated enterprise-wide solutions and deepen customer relationships. He joined Westinghouse in June 2022 and brings more than 30 years of experience in the nuclear and energy industries, including executive leadership roles in both France and the United States. At AREVA Group he led the Back-End Business Group and the growth of the North American business, and earlier in his career he developed and sold Ecobilan, an innovative start-up specializing in life cycle analysis. He later served as President of Kurion, Inc. and provided executive consulting and strategic counsel across the energy and nuclear industries. Mr. Besnainou holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and engineering from École Polytechnique and a master’s in engineering and public policy from École des Mines de Paris.
Eunjung Lim is Professor in the Division of International Studies at Kongju National University (KNU) and joins the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center as a visiting scholar from April 2026 to February 2027. She previously served as KNU’s Vice President for International Affairs and as Dean of the Institute of Korean Education and Culture. Her research focuses on international cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, comparative and global governance, and energy, nuclear, and climate change policies in East Asia. She has served as a board member of the Korea Institute of Nuclear Nonproliferation and Control and on the Subcommittee on Energy and Just Transition of the Presidential Commission on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth, and she currently sits on the Policy Advisory Committee for the Ministry of Unification and the governing board of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament.
Koroush Shirvan joined the faculty of the Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in July 2017 and also directs the Nuclear Reactor Technology course for utility executives. In 2021 his group released the first open-source bottom-up capital cost analysis tool for advanced nuclear, and its capabilities have since expanded to cover construction schedule, risk, financing, operation and maintenance, decommissioning, and fuel cycle cost. He is an active consultant to the majority of large nuclear utilities in North America and Europe on matters of cost and risk projection for new nuclear projects.
Moderator
Anna Broughel is a Lecturer in Sustainable Energy Transition Policy at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), where she teaches graduate courses in energy policy, economics, digitalization, and systems analysis. She serves as President-Elect of the United States Association for Energy Economics, following previous service as Secretary-Treasurer, Vice President of Communications, and Council Member. Anna’s career spans academia, government, and industry. She previously served as a Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the U.S. Department of Energy, where she co-managed a behavioral research portfolio in the Solar Energy Technologies Office, and as an energy economist and principal consultant at Tetra Tech, advising public and private sector clients on energy and environmental policy. She also led the fellowship program at the Clean Energy Leadership Institute, building a national network of clean energy professionals.
In addition to a dynamic lineup of speakers, conference highlights include:
- The opening reception: Kick off conference in style at the DoubleTree Pittsburgh Downtown's elegant upper foyer.
- Arrive earlier on Sunday, November 15 and join us for an exclusive tour of a Pittsburgh-area energy facility. Tour site and details coming soon; registration required.
- Unparalleled networking and career-building opportunities — for both students and professionals
- Concurrent sessions featuring research, case studies, and analysis from industry, academia, and government practitioners.
Don’t miss out on this must-attend event!
Now is also the perfect time to join us as a conference or association sponsor! Provide vital support for USAEE's mission and enjoy a range of benefits that enhance visibility and impact both at the conference and year-round!
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