Land Transfer Marks Major Step for McCracken County’s Future

Uranium Enrichment Facility Would Create Hundreds of Full-Time Jobs, Open Land to Hunting and Fishing

Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced an important step in a potential major economic development project in McCracken County as Global Laser Enrichment LLC (GLE) finalized a land transfer with the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The proposed uranium enrichment project would create up to 300 full-time jobs for Kentuckians.

 

“Moving our commonwealth forward takes cooperation and innovation, and this important project is the product of a lot of both,” Gov. Beshear said. “Our economy continues to break records, and this project has the potential to create hundreds of great new full-time jobs for our people and those moving to our New Kentucky Home.”

 

GLE is acquiring 665 acres previously owned by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources through an agreement with the commonwealth, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and the Paducah-McCracken County Industrial Development Authority. GLE has a contract with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to process uranium stored from past activities at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. GLE plans to establish a new uranium enrichment facility on the acquired site. This facility will use advanced laser enrichment technology to efficiently convert the stored uranium into new nuclear fuel, while also speeding up cleanup activities at the legacy site.

 

Formed in 2007, GLE develops laser-based uranium enrichment technology capability in the United States. Uranium is the primary fuel for nuclear power plants that produce a significant portion of the world’s clean energy. GLE’s laser-based technology provides increased efficiency to the enrichment process compared with existing methods.

 

The scale and timeline of the project are contingent on DOE funding, Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing and support from industry, community and state partners.

 

The greenfield site is strategically located adjacent to the former DOE first-generation Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP). The facility was shut down in 2013 after decades of operation.

 

“We greatly appreciate the collaborative efforts of our community and state partners in Kentucky that have been instrumental in finalizing this land acquisition,” said GLE CEO Stephen Long. “We are excited to continue our partnership with the commonwealth as we work towards a commercialization decision and maintaining our deployment target date of no later than 2030.”

 

McCracken County Judge Executive and Chair of the Paducah-McCracken County Industrial Development Authority Board, Craig Clymer, shared his thoughts on behalf of the community:

 

“GLE’s consideration of this state-of-the-art uranium enrichment facility here in McCracken County exemplifies the expedited growth our community is experiencing through collaboration with local, state, and federal partners. Greater Paducah Economic Development, along with the Paducah-McCracken County Industrial Development Authority, the Paducah Area Community Reuse Organization, the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce, Governor Beshear, the Cabinet for Economic Development, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Department of Energy all pulling together makes a strong team producing great results. GLE’s new laser enrichment technology has the potential to not only enhance our nation’s nuclear fuel supply, but also bring new energy, new life, new capital investment, and new jobs to McCracken County.”

 

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and its commission agreed to a land exchange that was key to this development. In exchange for 665 acres of the West Kentucky Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Kentucky Fish and Wildlife will accept ownership of 1,043 acres in Fulton County acquired by the Paducah-McCracken County Industrial Development Authority and funded by GLE.

 

The new Fulton County property is adjacent to the Mississippi River and will be added to the Obion Creek WMA. The Choate Tract, as it will be called, will be owned and managed by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and is expected to open to statewide regulations for hunting and fishing in spring 2025. The transferred portion of West Kentucky WMA will remain open to public use through Feb. 28, 2025.

 

“This was a creative and carefully constructed exchange that will not only benefit Paducah and nearby communities, but it will also benefit many wildlife species and the outdoors enthusiasts who visit Western Kentucky,” said Rich Storm, commissioner of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “The additional acreage on Obion Creek WMA will provide much needed public hunting access, hiking, wildlife viewing and other wildlife related opportunities in an area where these are not readily available.”

 

Historically, the Choate property has been used for agricultural purposes, but portions are frequently flooded by the Mississippi River. In 2023, the property was enrolled into the Wetland Reserve Easement Program with the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Resource Conservation Service with plans to restore the property to a bottomland hardwood forest and wetland complex that will be especially attractive to waterfowl.

 

For more details on this transformative project, see the following resources: