FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Energy has announced an arrangement that is expected to keep the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant operating for another year and preserve 1,200 jobs, at least temporarily.
Energy Secretary Steven Chu said Tuesday the beleaguered plant will enrich depleted uranium for the Tennessee Valley Authority and Energy Northwest.
Chu said the arrangement will benefit electric ratepayers and continue operations at the Paducah plant. It involves transferring a portion of the Department of Energy’s depleted uranium tails to Energy Northwest, which will contract with USEC Inc. to do the enrichment and sell some uranium to the TVA.
The arrangement also calls for the extension of an agreement between TVA and the National Nuclear Security Administration to produce tritium for the nation’s nuclear program for up to 15 years.
