Bechtel and USC Partner to Build South Carolina's Nuclear Workforce

Bechtel and the University of South Carolina's Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing announced a new partnership to strengthen South Carolina's nuclear workforce pipeline and support nuclear innovation in the state, including the establishment of the Bechtel Nuclear Energy Workforce Development Fund.

The Bechtel Nuclear Energy Workforce Development Fund will:

• Support experiential learning and workforce development programs that connect students and trainees with nuclear-sector careers, from engineering and project management to the skilled trade professions essential to building, operating, and maintaining nuclear energy infrastructure.

• Draw on Bechtel's 70 years of experience in nuclear to help develop curriculum and training materials that prepare skilled trades professionals for careers in nuclear construction.

• Create opportunities for continued collaboration among Bechtel, the University of South Carolina, technical colleges, building-trades partners, and other workforce leaders across the state.

"South Carolina has the talent, experience, and supporting infrastructure to play an important role in America's nuclear future," said Dena Volovar, president of Bechtel's Nuclear, Security & Environmental business. "Bechtel is proud to partner with the University of South Carolina because of its ability to bring together industry, educators, and workforce partners. This kind of collaboration is essential to building the talent pipeline required for the next generation of nuclear projects."

"The future of nuclear energy in South Carolina depends on a workforce ecosystem that prepares people for the full range of careers this industry will require," said Hossein Haj-Hariri, dean of the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing. "Bechtel's investment will help us strengthen partnerships among industry, technical colleges, the skilled trades, and the university, creating more opportunities for South Carolinians to contribute to this important sector."

The partnership also supports the Molinaroli College's proposed Nuclear Innovation Center, a major initiative within the college's emerging Engineering District. The center is designed to bring together education, research, industry, and workforce-development partners to help South Carolina meet the opportunities ahead in nuclear energy.

A Commitment to South Carolina

South Carolina has a long history in nuclear energy and a strong foundation of industry, education, and workforce-development partners. The Bechtel-USC partnership builds on that foundation by investing in the education and training needed to prepare South Carolinians for careers in nuclear energy and help meet the workforce demands of the industry's growth.

Leaders from across the state offered their support for the partnership:

"South Carolina's nuclear energy future depends on a highly skilled workforce ready to support every stage of this industry, from construction and operations to advanced technical roles," said Dr. Tim Hardee, president of the SC Technical College System. "The SC Technical College System is proud to partner with Bechtel, the Nuclear Innovation Center, our colleges, industry, and higher education partners to create pathways that prepare South Carolinians for meaningful careers in this growing sector."

Proven Nuclear Experience

Bechtel brings more than 70 years of experience in nuclear energy. The company has designed, built, or supported 150 nuclear plants worldwide, bringing more than 76,000 megawatts online. Its experience spans the industry's history, from building the world's first reactor to generate usable electricity to delivering Vogtle Units 3 and 4, the first new U.S. nuclear units in more than 30 years. At Vogtle, Bechtel completed Unit 4 30 percent more efficiently than Unit 3, despite stepping into the project midstream.

Today, Bechtel is delivering three AP1000 reactors as EPC partner for Poland's first nuclear power plant. In addition to its nuclear national security missions, it works with customers on a range of reactor technologies and future nuclear projects. Bechtel is also leading the industry in qualifying its digital construction tools, AI-enabled planning, robotics, and standardized work processes under its nuclear quality and safety program to modernize how nuclear projects are delivered.

Bechtel is investing in the skilled-trades workforce these projects require. In May, Bechtel and North America's Building Trades Unions (NABTU) signed a memorandum of understanding to modernize nuclear construction apprenticeships. Together, they are identifying the specialized craft skills nuclear construction requires, updating curricula with union training centers, and expanding recruitment into careers building large reactors and small modular reactors. Bechtel currently has more than 20,000 skilled-trades professionals working across active projects, giving the company firsthand experience recruiting, training, and deploying the workforce needed for complex construction programs.