Current:Home > InvestOrano USA to build a multibillion-dollar uranium enrichment facility in eastern Tennessee-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Orano USA to build a multibillion-dollar uranium enrichment facility in eastern Tennessee
View Date:2024-12-23 19:54:53
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (AP) — A France-based company that specializes in nuclear power and renewable energy has selected a site in eastern Tennessee to build a multibillion-dollar centrifuge uranium enrichment facility, Gov. Bill Lee announced.
The project was unveiled Wednesday in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where the 750,000-square-foot center for Orano USA will be built.
“Tennessee is the number one state for nuclear energy companies to invest and thrive, and we are proud to partner with Orano to lead America’s energy independence and drive continued economic growth and greater opportunity for Tennesseans,” Lee said in a statement.
State officials did not release how much Orano USA will invest in the new site, but the project is expected to bring in 300 jobs.
Jean-Luc Palayer, CEO and president of Orano USA, said the next steps would involve securing “available federal support and customer commitments” and also obtaining a license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
“Today we celebrate this major milestone towards bringing a new enrichment facility online to help meet our country’s need for an increased, secure domestic nuclear fuel supply,” Palayer added.
According to Knox News, the city of Oak Ridge, Roane County and the state’s nuclear fund will each contribute $5 million to help cover the cost of the utility preparations for the site.
The announcement in Tennessee comes after President Joe Biden signed off on legislation in May designed to end the import of enriched uranium from Russia. The new law also released around $2.7 billion to expand the domestic uranium fuel industry.
About 12% of the uranium used to produce electricity at U.S. nuclear power plants is imported from Russia, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
“Energy independence will be critical to our nation’s success,” said Senate Speaker Randy McNally, a Republican from Oak Ridge who also serves as lieutenant governor. “The development and expansion of clean and efficient nuclear power is the path to that independence.”
veryGood! (1)
Related
- Agents search home of ex-lieutenant facing scrutiny as police probe leak of school shooting evidence
- Travis Barker and Alabama Barker Get “Tatted Together” During Father-Daughter Night
- Florida surgeon general wants to halt COVID-19 mRNA vaccines; FDA calls his claims misleading
- When and where to see the Quadrantids, 2024's first meteor shower
- Nelly will not face charges after St. Louis casino arrest for drug possession
- 2 Mass. Lottery players cash $1 million tickets on the same day
- NFL coach hot seat rankings: Where do Bill Belichick and others fall in final week?
- Kelly Clarkson Jokes About Her Weight-Loss Journey During Performance
- Larry Hobbs, who guided AP’s coverage of Florida news for decades, has died at 83
- Federal appeals court denies effort to block state-run court in Mississippi’s majority-Black capital
Ranking
- Nicole Scherzinger receives support from 'The View' hosts after election post controversy
- Trump’s lawyers want special counsel Jack Smith held in contempt in 2020 election interference case
- Exploding toilet at a Dunkin' store in Florida left a customer filthy and injured, lawsuit claims
- The U.S. Mint releases new commemorative coins honoring Harriet Tubman
- Colorado police shot, kill mountain lion after animal roamed on school's campus
- Britney Spears shoots down album rumors, vowing to ‘never return to the music industry’
- A top Hamas official, Saleh al-Arouri, is killed in Beirut blast
- Sierra Leone’s former president charged with treason for alleged involvement in failed coup attempt
Recommendation
-
Powerball winning numbers for November 11 drawing: Jackpot hits $103 million
-
When and where to see the Quadrantids, 2024's first meteor shower
-
Nepal bars citizens from going to Russia or Ukraine for work, saying they are recruited as fighters
-
Sandra Bullock Spreads Late Partner Bryan Randall's Ashes in Wyoming
-
The Latin Grammys are almost here for a 25th anniversary celebration
-
Respiratory illnesses are on the rise after the holidays
-
Unsealed Jeffrey Epstein Docs Allege Prince Andrew Groped Woman With Hand Puppet
-
4 patients die after a fire breaks out at a hospital in northern Germany