Gov. Andy Beshear made the announcement during his Team Kentucky press briefing on Thursday.
"Our economy continues to set records, and with today's announcement, we're making history once again in Western Kentucky," Beshear said. "We're becoming a global leader for nuclear power, and the world is looking to us as energy demands keep rising."
Once licensed, the facility is expected to re-enrich over 200,000 metric tons of uranium waste under a 2016 contract with the U.S. Department of Energy, accelerating the department's site cleanup mission, reducing long-term federal costs, and providing a new fuel source for nuclear power generation.
Stephen Long, the CEO of GLE, said the company received an award of up to $28.5 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to support its work.
"We greatly appreciate the Commonwealth of Kentucky and McCracken County's enthusiasm and support for nuclear energy and particularly the U.S. domestic nuclear fuel sources," Long said. "This incentive package today represents a shared vision in economic development, community revitalization, technological leadership, and the establishment of a revitalized fuel supply chain here in the U.S."
The facility is expected to sit on 665 acres near the DOE's former Gaseous Diffusion Plant and will create 240 new high-paying jobs in Paducah and the surrounding region.
