23 - Braden Stover: Energy Leadership, How Tennessee Can Transform America

Host, Dominique Cooper, welcomes Braden Stover on this episode. They explore the potential economic impact of Tennessee's leadership in energy innovation, particularly through the deployment of small modular reactors. It highlights the limitless opportunities for job creation and workforce development that could arise from this initiative. Braden Stover, Chief Policy Officer at the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development (TNECD). In his role, he leads policy development, supports Tennessee’s nuclear and advanced-energy investment strategy, and helps position the state as a national leader in next-generation nuclear technologies, supply chain innovation, and workforce development. Braden has been deeply involved in Tennessee’s Nuclear Energy Advisory Council and the state’s efforts to build a competitive advanced nuclear ecosystem. He brings insight on how policy, industry, and innovation must converge to meet today’s energy and national-security challenges.