The Obama Administration's support of nuclear energy has resulted in renewed interest in nuclear power in this country. The first wave of nuclear new build projects in decades are underway in the US, helped along by US DOE loan guarantees. IQPC’s Nuclear Power Growth & Operations Symposium addressed the dramatic shifts in the nuclear power industry, including existing plant operations, nuclear new builds, regulatory policy, project finance, and international industry trends. NERA Vice President Edward Kee gave the Symposium's opening keynote address, entitled "First Wave Nuclear Projects: Learning from the Past and Defining the Future," explaining the factors that are driving the nuclear power industry restart in the US and abroad.