Oak Ridge Multibillion Dollar Nuclear Project: Largest Investment in Tennessee History

From left: State Reps. Jason Zachary and John Ragan, Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter, Roane County Executive Wade Creswell, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Orano USA President and CEO Jean-Luc Palayer, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, State Sen. Ken Yager, Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, Tennessee Valley Authority Chief Operating Officer Don Moul, and State Rep. Monty Fritts gather for the announcement of Oak Ridge as the site for Orano USA's new multibillion dollar uranium enrichment facility - the largest investment in Tennessee history.

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. - In a landmark decision announced last week, Orano USA has selected Oak Ridge for the site of a new multibillion dollar uranium enrichment facility, representing the single largest investment in Tennessee's history.

Gov. Bill Lee announced the news during a press conference at the Oak Ridge Enhanced Technology and Training Center. He was joined by city, state and federal officials who praised the project's scale and significance.

The new facility, spanning 750,000 square feet, will become one of the largest uranium enrichment plants in North America, solidifying Oak Ridge as a hub for nuclear technology and innovation.

The ambitious endeavor, known as Project IKE, will be located on a 920-acre site on the Roane County side of Oak Ridge. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) land will be transferred to Orano USA.

The project will lead to the creation of more than 300 jobs, offering a substantial boost to the local economy. Lee emphasized the importance of these jobs.

"Whenever you bring into a community hundreds of jobs, particularly if they're highly skilled and high paying, it elevates the entire workforce in the region. That's part of the reason this is so important," Lee said. "Hundreds of Tennesseans will have access to better employment opportunity for their families. This makes life better for the people in the community."

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee addresses the audience and discusses the importance of the jobs created by this project.

Orano is a leading player in the nuclear industry. The French-owned company specializes in uranium mining, conversion, enrichment, used nuclear fuel management and recycling, decommissioning, site cleanup, and nuclear medicine.

Project IKE will be the second major project in Tennessee to benefit from the state's Nuclear Energy Fund, an initiative that helps nuclear-related businesses establish or expand operations in the Volunteer State. The fund also supports Tennessee's universities and research institutions in furthering their nuclear education programs.

Jean-Luc Palayer, CEO and president of Orano USA, noted the significance of the company's partnership with DOE.

"We are very proud of partnering with the U.S. Department of Energy to clean up and convert one of their sites, set aside originally for the Manhattan Project, and repurpose it into one of the largest and state-of-the-art uranium enrichment facilities in the country," said Palayer.

Project IKE continues the growing momentum of private companies locating on land transferred by DOE and spurring new economic development. To date, more than 1,700 acres have been transferred to the community that now house other nuclear companies, including Triso-X, Kairos Power and Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation.

Education and workforce development will play a critical role supporting the success of Project IKE. Institutions such as the University of Tennessee, Tennessee Tech University, Roane State Community College and Tennessee College of Applied Technology will be key partners in developing the highly skilled workforce needed for the facility.

"This city is nothing without capable people, and this region and this state have a remarkable education program implemented by the state and the counties," said Palayer. "With this program, you provide education and training for skilled workers, technicians, engineers, staff and many other jobs that will be needed."

Lee also highlighted the broader implications of this investment for the nation's energy landscape.

"There is a need like never before for energy independence in this country for reliable, safe, cost-effective energy," Lee said. "There is no conversation about the future of America's energy industry that doesn't include nuclear, and nowadays there are not many nuclear conversations that don't include Tennessee."

Orano USA will begin the licensing process with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and anticipates the facility could begin production in the early 2030s, according to Palayer.

-Contributor: Allison Smith