General Matter Signs Lease to Revive Dormant Paducah Enrichment Site

PADUCAH, Ky., Aug. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- General Matter is bringing uranium enrichment back to the United States, starting at the site where the U.S. enrichment industry was born.

General Matter, the American uranium enrichment company, proposed a plan in coordination with the Department of Energy, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and the local Paducah community to build a commercial uranium enrichment facility at the former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Paducah, Kentucky.

The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant was the first location where the U.S. industrialized enrichment technology, enabling the eventual widespread adoption of commercial nuclear power.

"Today's announcement marks a significant step in the Department's fulfillment of Secretary Wright's vision of ensuring reliable, affordable, and secure energy for all Americans," said Deputy Secretary of Energy James P. Danly.

This proposed enrichment facility will produce the fuel needed for the next generation of nuclear energy, central to America's aspirations in AI, manufacturing, and other critical industries. The plant will also offset a large percentage of foreign imports from adversarial countries, saving the U.S. approximately $500M per year. In addition, it will bring significant economic benefits to the Paducah community, employing 140 people in well-paid, locally sourced jobs. The plant will be the anchor for over $1B in potential investment in the local area, and will catalyze the growth of the nuclear and manufacturing industries in Paducah and broader Western Kentucky.

"I want to congratulate the team at General Matter on this major step toward what would be the largest economic investment ever for Western Kentucky," said Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. "This lease reflects Kentucky's leadership in nuclear energy and our strong partnerships at the federal and local levels, as well as in the private sector. I am looking forward to being back in Paducah soon to celebrate the next key milestone for this exciting and historic project."

"Sooner or later, I think America will understand that domestic use of nuclear energy is the way forward," shared U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell during his remarks at the announcement ceremony. "All of you here deserve a round of applause for creating the kind of environment that would attract the plants of the future. I'm looking forward to witnessing what happens. Like I said, this is a big deal."

"This is great news for Paducah, McCracken County, and the entire western Kentucky region," added U.S. Senator Rand Paul. "I look forward to continuing to support the community as this project moves forward and to seeing new job opportunities and investment take root on this site and throughout the Commonwealth."

"What a great day for West Kentucky, and what a great day for America," said U.S. Congressman James Comer during his remarks at the announcement ceremony. "I've been in Congress almost nine years. This is the first time in my nine years that I've been at an event where both U.S. Senators, the U.S. Representative, and the Governor are all in attendance to celebrate the same thing." Congressman Comer continued: "You can't have economic development without energy, and that's what we're here to see today."

"Seventy-five years ago, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission selected Paducah to help lead the nation's original enrichment efforts," said General Matter CEO Scott Nolan. "We are proud to return to and reactivate this historic site to power a new era of American energy independence, and we thank our partners in Kentucky and at the DOE's Office of Environmental Management and the Office of Nuclear Energy for supporting us in this landmark investment in American nuclear infrastructure."

General Matter is the first privately-funded American company to develop uranium enrichment technology. The company was selected by the DOE as an awardee in both its LEU and HALEU enrichment acquisition programs, and it plans to be enriching uranium at the Paducah site by the end of the decade.

Enrichment is a safe, proven process that involves only separation processes, and zero nuclear or chemical reactions. Strict safety and environmental standards would be followed during development and operation, under oversight from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission during the licensing process.

About General Matter: General Matter is enriching uranium in America to reshore domestic nuclear fuel capacity and power the American energy production needed to lead in AI, manufacturing, and other critical industries. General Matter is backed by Founders Fund, the first institutional investor in SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril. The company brings together a team of American experts and engineers, recruited from across the U.S. with deep backgrounds in nuclear, tech, and government. General Matter focuses on speed, accountability, and transparency to deliver real progress in clean energy and national security. Their work is designed to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign fuel and power America's future.

For more information on General Matter, visit generalmatter.com.

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SOURCE General Matter