Paducah’s historic role in America’s nuclear industry is set for a major revival.
General Matter, the first privately funded American company to develop uranium enrichment technology, has signed a lease with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to build a $1.5 billion commercial uranium enrichment facility at the former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant—the birthplace of America’s uranium enrichment industry.
The project is expected to create about 140 high-paying, full-time jobs and generate an estimated $71 million in recurring annual economic benefits for the region. Construction alone will bring hundreds of well-paying jobs to the area, and the facility is projected to anchor more than $1 billion in additional local investment.
General Matter selected Paducah after evaluating more than 1,000 potential sites in 11 states, citing its strategic infrastructure, skilled workforce, and strong support at the state and local levels. Local leaders say the impact will be felt for generations, providing strong wages, long-term careers, and a renewed role in the national energy landscape.
The new plant will produce fuel for the next generation of nuclear energy—critical to growth in advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and other high-tech industries. By reshoring domestic nuclear fuel production, the facility will reduce U.S. reliance on foreign imports and could save the nation approximately $500 million annually.
Uranium enrichment will be conducted through safe, proven separation processes, with no nuclear or chemical reactions, under strict safety and environmental oversight from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
General Matter has been selected by DOE as an awardee in its Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) and High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) programs, with operations in Paducah targeted to begin by the end of the decade. The company says its mission is to strengthen America’s clean energy future and national security while bringing significant economic opportunities to Western Kentucky.
More information is available at www.generalmatter.com.
