Energy Secretary Wright Opens New Chapter of Innovation in South Carolina

Energy Secretary Chris Wright opened the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative facility on the campus of the University of South Carolina-Aiken on Aug. 7. From left are Harry Lightsey, South Carolina secretary of commerce; Tammy Taylor, deputy laboratory director for science and technology, Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL); Tony Polk, assistant manager for nuclear materials stabilization, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM), Savannah River Operations Office (SROO); Edwin Deshong, manager, SROO; U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, South Carolina; Wright; Johney Green, director, SRNL; U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina; Roger Jarrell, principal deputy assistant secretary, EM; Michael Mikolanis, manager, National Nuclear Security Administration, Savannah River Field Office; Alicia Stetin, chief of staff, EM; Teresa Haas, chair, Aiken County Commission for Higher Education, Daniel Heimmermann, chancellor, University of South Carolina Aiken; and South Carolina Sen. Tom Young.

DOE leaders launch Savannah River National Laboratory’s new Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative facility

AIKEN, S.C. — Joined by local, state and congressional leaders, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and other U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) officials opened the doors to Savannah River National Laboratory’s (SRNL) new Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative (AMC) last week during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the campus of the University of South Carolina Aiken (USC Aiken), launching a new chapter for American innovation in South Carolina.

The milestone follows through on a vision that began more than seven years ago and represents a new era of collaboration between government, academia and industry. The 63,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility provides modern laboratory, office and conference facilities designed to foster innovation in advanced manufacturing in areas such as additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence-driven automation, and novel materials for fusion energy, energy resilience and nuclear applications.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright addresses officials at the opening of the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative facility in Aiken, South Carolina. The 63,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility connects industry, academia and government to increase capabilities in areas such as additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence-driven automation, and novel materials for fusion energy and energy resilience.

“The Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative will bring the expertise of the Department of Energy’s national labs together with innovators from academia and the private sector with one shared goal: to unleash America’s energy potential,” Wright said. “This mission was started by President Trump in his first term, and I am proud to be representing the Department of Energy 200 days into his second administration for the grand opening of this facility, completed in record time.”

SRNL will operate the facility, serving as a catalyst to attract new technology and manufacturing to the region, as well as build a pipeline of talent to support the Savannah River Site mission and regional manufacturing growth. The AMC also provides a platform for public-private partnerships, supporting DOE Office of Environmental Management (EM) and broader Departmental mission objectives while creating jobs, spurring innovation and maximizing the reach of industry in South Carolina.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright toured the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative facility in Aiken, South Carolina, on Aug. 7. From left are Tony Polk, assistant manager for nuclear materials stabilization, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM), Savannah River Operations Office (SROO); Harry Lightsey, South Carolina secretary of commerce; Edwin Deshong, manager, SROO; Roger Jarrell, principal deputy assistant secretary, EM; Wright; Johney Green, director, Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL); Michael Mikolanis, manager, National Nuclear Security Administration, Savannah River Field Office; Steve Stamper, director, Savannah River Laboratory Office, SROO; Tammy Taylor, deputy laboratory director for science and technology, SRNL; and Alicia Stetin, chief of staff, EM.

“The Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative is more than a building — it is a bold step toward redefining how SRNL works with the best of American industry and academia to solve our nation’s most pressing energy and security challenges,” said SRNL Director Johney Green. “We are grateful to everyone across the Department, the University of South Carolina-Aiken, our partners and dedicated laboratory staff for making this vision a reality.”

USC Aiken Chancellor Daniel Heimmermann also provided remarks and emphasized the educational impact of the facility during the ceremony. He thanked the Aiken County Commission for Higher Education for locating AMC on the USC Aiken campus and bringing together academia, industry and the national laboratories across the manufacturing sectors.

Katie Hill, right, senior scientist, Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), briefs Energy Secretary Chris Wright, second from left, during his tour of the laboratory with Johney Green, SRNL director, fourth from left, and Roger Jarrell, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management principal deputy assistant secretary, sixth from left.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright toured the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) on Aug. 6. From left are Tony Polk, assistant manager for nuclear materials stabilization, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental Management (EM), Savannah River Operations Office (SROO); Tammy Taylor, deputy laboratory director for science and technology, SRNL; Edwin Deshong, manager, SROO; Wright; Roger Jarrell, principal deputy assistant secretary, EM; Johney Green, director, SRNL; Michael Mikolanis, manager, National Nuclear Security Administration, Savannah River Field Office; and Steve Stamper, director, Savannah River Laboratory Office, SROO.

With the opening of the AMC, SRNL will deliver an economic engine for South Carolina, providing entrepreneurs and manufacturers a new access point to DOE and SRNL.

“I look forward to working with all of you to harness that potential in a community that has played a key role in our security, science and energy missions for so many decades,” EM Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Roger Jarrell said. “This facility will help produce a pipeline of talent to support the Savannah River Site mission and regional manufacturing for decades to come.”

In conjunction with opening the AMC, Wright visited SRNL, which is ushering in a nuclear and industrial renaissance, leading to new frontiers of scientific discovery and global technological dominance. The visit marked his 11th stop in his goal to visit all 17 of the DOE national laboratories this year.