Centrus Energy Corp. has unveiled plans for a massive $1.5 billion expansion of its uranium enrichment (nuclear) plant in Piketon, Ohio, a move the company and state leaders are calling a “game-changer” for jobs and American energy independence.
The project, if it goes forward at full scale, would mean:
- 1,000 temporary construction jobs during the buildout
- 300 new permanent operations jobs once running
- 127 existing jobs retained at the site
That’s big news for Pike as well as Scioto counties, both places have struggled with job loss since the closure of the old Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. The new Piketon Nuclear Plant has the potential to reshape the local economy for the next generation.
We Asked, But There Were No Updates Then
We recently asked Scioto County Commissioner Scottie Powell if there was any movement on the Piketon project. At the time, he said there weren’t any new updates. Now, Centrus is officially announcing the expansion, though many details are still up in the air.
Where’s the Money Coming From?
Centrus has raised over $1 billion through private financing and lined up billions more in purchase commitments from energy customers. They’re also hoping to snag additional federal dollars from the Department of Energy. But company leaders admit they don’t yet know exactly where all the funding will come from, and the scale of the project depends heavily on Washington’s decisions.
In other words: big promises, but not all the checks have cleared.
Breaking Down the Tech in Plain English
This facility would ramp up production of Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) and High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU). In simple terms, that means they’ll be processing uranium to the right strength for use in nuclear power plants, both current ones and the new, smaller modular reactors being developed.
Almost all uranium enrichment worldwide is handled by foreign, state-owned companies. Centrus is pitching itself as the only U.S.-based, American-technology alternative.
Jobs and Energy Security vs. Safety Concerns
Governor Mike DeWine and other political leaders are backing the expansion, framing it as a matter of national security and local jobs. But in Pike County and surrounding areas, radiation concerns loom large.
Residents still remember health scares and contamination reports linked to the old Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. Some worry whether new large-scale uranium operations could add to long-standing radiation fears in a region already scarred by them.
What’s Next?
Centrus has already begun hiring and says the project will ripple through the supply chain, with equipment built in Tennessee and assembled in Ohio. But much hinges on federal funding decisions in the months ahead.
For now, the promise is thousands of jobs, billions in investment, and energy independence, alongside lingering questions about money, safety, and trust in a region with a complicated nuclear legacy.
A reminder of our original reporting. Note the date.
