Tagged: Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant

The U.S. Department of Energy has rejected a proposal that would have extended operations at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant.

For about 60 years, the plant has processed uranium for use in nuclear power plants. Last May, it was scheduled for closure, but a new agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority and Energy Northwest pushed back the planned shutdown date.

First District Congressman Ed Whitfield has been tapped to lead a subcommittee at the Republican National Convention later this month, where he’ll help shape the Republican party’s stance on energy issues.

Whitfield is the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power. During his time in that position, he’s lead efforts to keep the uranium enrichment plant in Paducah open and stop the federal government from regulating coal ash.

On paper, Kentucky has a ban on nuclear power plants. That’s still the case. But a new law opens up new ways for nuclear energy to be used in the Commonwealth.

One of the things House Bill 559 allows is the re-enrichment of depleted uranium tails. But the legislation doesn’t go very far to help the one facility in the state that has been waiting for federal approval to re-enrich uranium tools.