Project Controls Team Leader

USC, Westinghouse partner to advance nuclear workforce development. September 29, 2026 Westinghouse Electric Company and the University of South Carolina (USC) are partnering to create a multidisciplinary nuclear workforce development program to support U.S. fleet deployment of AP1000(R) plants. The new program will be centered at the USC Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing's planned Nuclear Innovation Center. Associate Deputy Secretary of Energy and Senior Advisor to the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy Alex Fitzsimmons, USC President Michael Amiridis, Westinghouse President of New Plant Delivery Luca Oriani, Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing Dean Hossein Haj-Hariri and Former Chairman and CEO of Johnson Controls Alex Molinaroli attended a memorandum of understanding signing for the agreement today at the Third Annual South Carolina Nuclear Summit in Columbia. "President Trump's historic executive orders have laid the foundation for a new era of American nuclear energy, and we must build the workforce capable of turning that vision into reality," said U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy James P. Danly. "This is why investments in workforce development like the partnership between Westinghouse and the University of South Carolina are so important. These collaborations will build the talent base needed to support new nuclear construction, strengthen our domestic supply chain, and ensure that American families have high-paying jobs for generations to come." "We look forward to collaborating with Westinghouse to develop workforce education opportunities for our students as we plan for our proposed Nuclear Innovation Center at the University of South Carolina," USC President Michael Amiridis said. "This partnership between higher education and industry promises to strengthen South Carolina's leading role in the future of nuclear energy for our state and nation." The partnership will explore opportunities to create a first-of-its-kind nuclear training center to develop and prepare all workforce disciplines for a large-scale national deployment of new nuclear power plants. Potential training capabilities being discussed include: * State-of-the-art digital AP1000 simulators that can train plant operators and university students in a replica control room that simulates the operating conditions of a plant. The AP1000 advanced modular reactor is the only proven Generation III+ technology available today, delivering 1.115 gigawatts of electricity, which is enough to power 750,000 U.S. homes. * Unique hands-on construction labs to provide craft, construction and maintenance training as well as to develop new and advanced technologies through digital work packages, wearables, AR/VR and AI-enabled execution. * A multidisciplinary certificate program for mechanical, electrical, industrial and civil engineering students pursuing careers in the nuclear energy sector. The Nuclear Innovation Center is a major new initiative for USC aimed at positioning South Carolina as a national leader in nuclear energy research, innovation, partnership and workforce development. The center will create a model for developing the skilled talent and technology infrastructure required by the nuclear energy industry and strengthen South Carolina's ability to compete for nuclear and technology-driven economic development. Westinghouse has maintained a significant presence in South Carolina for more than five decades. The company employs more than 2,200 people across the state, including at its Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility, one of the largest nuclear fuel manufacturing facilities of its kind. In addition to fuel fabrication, Westinghouse supports new plant deployment, engineering, information technology, and outage and maintenance services from locations across South Carolina, contributing to the state's leadership in nuclear energy and advanced manufacturing. "While South Carolina is already a strong nuclear state, this strategic partnership between USC and Westinghouse will position the state as a national leader," said Luca Oriani, President of Westinghouse New Plant Delivery. "This collaboration will support high-paying jobs and economic growth across South Carolina while strengthening and further developing the workforce needed to deliver the next generation of nuclear power plants and meet the rising demand for electricity."

ASME Foundation and Westinghouse Join Forces to Build Local Engineering and Manufacturing Talent Pipeline in Shoreview, Minnesota Date Published: Sep 24, 2026

Westinghouse renews IPO bid amid AI power crunch, with U.S. Government targeting $30 billion valuation - biggo finance. Westinghouse renews IPO bid amid AI power crunch, with U.S. Government targeting $30 billion valuation. 2026-09-01 13:05 (GMT+8) U.S. nuclear power plant company Westinghouse is pursuing an initial public offering (IPO) in a bid for a comeback, nine years after suffering its worst crisis - a 2017 bankruptcy. The surge in electricity demand driven by the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, along with the Donald Trump administration's nuclear expansion policies, are cited as the key drivers behind the IPO push. The Wall Street Journal reported on August 31 (local time) that Westinghouse filed confidentially for an IPO in July. The listing timeline and offering size have not yet been finalized. Market estimates project Westinghouse's enterprise value at between $15 billion (approximately 20.6 trillion won) and $20 billion (approximately 27.4 trillion won). David Nicholas, CEO of X Funds, which manages a nuclear energy exchange-traded fund (ETF), said, "If investors assign value to the AP1000, a valuation exceeding $20 billion is not out of the question." From bankruptcy to revival. Founded in 1886, Westinghouse began as an electrical equipment company and went on to lead the nuclear power industry, building the world's first commercial nuclear power plant after World War II. However, competition intensified as latecomers such as South Korea and Japan gained market share, and the company ultimately filed for bankruptcy in 2017 amid construction delays and cost overruns at the Vogtle nuclear plant project in Georgia. The two Vogtle reactors were originally expected to cost $14 billion (approximately 19.2 trillion won) to build, but with construction delayed by roughly seven years, the final cost exceeded $30 billion (approximately 41.2 trillion won). Its then-parent company, Japan's Toshiba, could not absorb the losses. In 2023, Canadian private equity firm Brookfield and uranium miner Cameco acquired Westinghouse for $8 billion (approximately 11 trillion won). At the time of the acquisition, the nuclear construction business - the direct cause of the bankruptcy - was assigned no value, with only the nuclear fuel manufacturing and nuclear services segments, which generate stable cash flow, included in the valuation. Full-Throated support from the Trump administration. The Trump administration is aiming to push Westinghouse's valuation above $30 billion. In October of last year, the administration entered into a partnership with Westinghouse shareholders and agreed to pursue $80 billion (approximately 109.8 trillion won) in domestic nuclear construction. In exchange for providing regulatory streamlining and financial support including low-interest loans, the U.S. government would secure a 20% equity stake if the company's post-listing valuation exceeds $30 billion. President Trump has set a goal of expanding U.S. nuclear generating capacity from the current roughly 100 gigawatts (GW) to 400 GW by 2050, with an interim target of breaking ground on 10 new reactors by 2030. Westinghouse's AP1000 reactor technology is considered central to this plan. Dan Sumner, CEO of Westinghouse, emphasized, "There is virtually no realistic path to achieving AI infrastructure expansion and energy security without nuclear power." Power demand from AI data centers is already emerging as a tangible constraint. Last month, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an executive order halting new data center construction for one year. Applications totaling 12 GW of data center capacity are pending on New York's power grid - equivalent to Portugal's peak electricity demand. Overseas order prospects. The U.S. government is also working to secure business opportunities for Westinghouse abroad. The United States agreed in July to a nuclear cooperation agreement (a "123 Agreement") with Saudi Arabia, under which Westinghouse is expected to become the exclusive supplier of AP1000 reactors to the kingdom. The contract value is expected to reach several billion dollars, with some analysts projecting the economic impact of the 30-year agreement at tens of billions of dollars. However, having suffered bankruptcy during full-scale nuclear construction, Westinghouse has maintained a management principle of not bearing direct construction risk. Accordingly, the U.S. government and Westinghouse are reportedly proposing partnerships with South Korean companies that have extensive nuclear construction experience to serve as construction partners. As part of trade agreements tied to tariffs, the United States secured commitments last year for large-scale investments from South Korea and Japan. The U.S. government is also reportedly developing plans to channel a portion of those investment funds into its domestic nuclear revival.