Kentucky awards $10M in nuclear grants for SMR siting, enrichment supply chain, and workforce development

The Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority (KNEDA) disbursed $10 million in grants to six organizations to support nuclear energy development in the state. American Electric Power (AEP) received $1 million to lead preliminary siting identification work for potential small modular reactor (SMR) projects, including site identification, surveying, environmental reviews, and geotechnical testing. General Matter received funding to develop a roadmap for building urgent enrichment-related nuclear supply chain manufacturing capacity. Global Laser Enrichment plans to develop a workforce training program linked to its planned Paducah Laser Enrichment facility. Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) received $1.56 million to expand workforce development and community readiness efforts in eastern Kentucky, focusing on displaced coal workers. West Kentucky Community and Technical College and the West Kentucky Educational Cooperative also received funding to launch regional training hubs and nuclear education pathways in western Kentucky.