Comer: Paducah is Eager to Clean Up Former DOE Nuclear Plant and Jump-start New Economic Opportunities

WASHINGTON – In a Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs hearing, Congressman James Comer (R-Ky.) emphasized that Paducah, Kentucky is poised to attract leading industries to the Commonwealth and assist in the development of the United States’ advanced nuclear power capabilities. In his remarks, Congressman Comer highlighted that Dr. Kathryn Huff, Assistant Secretary in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy, recently visited the Paducah community and emphasized the critical role the region can play in the development of advanced nuclear opportunities. Congressman Comer will continue to assist local officials and community leaders who are eager to expedite the ongoing cleanup of the former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant and actively planning for reindustrialization and economic development at the site.

Watch Congressman Comer’s remarks HERE.

Congressman Comer: “Assistant Secretary Huff, thank you for visiting my district last year during a nuclear conference in Paducah, Kentucky, hosted by the Energy Communities Alliance… As you heard during your visit, the Paducah community is eager to expedite this cleanup and local officials and community leaders have begun planning for reindustrialization and economic development at the site.

“Since your visit, the Paducah Chamber of Commerce was awarded a DOE grant to develop a reindustrialization roadmap for the assets and workforce at the site. This award is evidence of the region’s united support for pursuing innovative ideas to develop advanced nuclear opportunities and is further highlighted by resolutions passed by Ballard and McCracken Counties and the City of Paducah supporting reindustrialization efforts at the site…

“Assistant Secretary Huff, with all this in mind, what opportunities and resources would you recommend to this region to aid the development of advanced nuclear opportunities?”

Dr. Huff: “Thank you Representative. I am really impressed by the leadership of your community and thinking ahead… I have heard a lot about their plans. [Paducah] holds an immense amount of resources in their workforce. When we look to equitable transitions for the future of nuclear energy, I want to see folks with real expertise in the nuclear space getting new jobs in the future of nuclear. As this cleanup project winds down, those folks with real nuclear expertise have an opportunity in a variety of manufacturing activities and even deployment of new nuclear reactors. Those skills are going to be very valuable in this transition.”

Congressman Comer:“…Global Laser Enrichment has a significant interest in partnering with the community to develop a commercial-scale facility which can supply uranium, conversion, low-enriched uranium, and high-assay low-enriched uranium. Projects like these are vital to turning legacy waste into fuel and creating high-paying jobs and economic activity in Paducah, Kentucky.”