Time running out on Piketon project
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Congress faces a Nov. 2 deadline to approve funding for the proposed uranium enrichment plant in Piketon.
Maryland-based USEC has spent three years trying to secure a $2 billion federal loan guarantee to build its American Centrifuge Project in southern Ohio.
Last week, the Department of Energy has announced it plans to work with the developer of the Piketon uranium enrichment project on research and development. However, the loan guarantee application from USEC Inc. is still pending.
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, issued the following response to the ongoing discussions between the Department of Energy and the American Centrifuge Project’s (ACP) strategic partners: "While these ongoing discussions between the DOE and USEC appear positive, I continue to encourage the Obama administration to approve the conditional loan for ACP.
"The workers supporting this important national security and energy security project deserve certainty after waiting for more than three years for a final decision. I am committed to working constructively with the Administration, USEC and workers in Piketon to find a path forward.”
The plant to be built in Piketon would be at the site of the former gaseous diffusion plant that enriched uranium. It would produce enriched uranium for use in generating electricity at nuclear power plants.
In an Oct. 30 report by the Dayton Daily News, the Department of Energy will need congressional approval to spend the money, and time is running out.
"USEC plans to send out layoff notices and reduce investment in the plant by 30 percent if they don’t receive the loan guarantee by Tuesday, Nov. 2," the DDN reported. "Another catch: USEC and the DOE announced earlier this year that they had reached an agreement to set a November 2011 deadline for USEC to secure funding for the project."
Energy Secretary Steven Chu acknowledged that congressional approval was “uncertain” in a letter to USEC CEO John Welch dated Oct. 27.
Sen. Portman has requested a meeting this week with DOE Secretary Steven Chu.
A spokesman for Portman told the DDN the wait has been too long. “After more than three years with a pending application and President Obama’s promised support, Senator Portman believes the people of Pike County and the surrounding area deserve an answer from the Department of Energy on the pending loan guarantee,” said Jeff Sadosky.
Sen. Sherrod Brown, called the project “important to the country and to job creation in Ohio.”[[In-content Ad]]
Maryland-based USEC has spent three years trying to secure a $2 billion federal loan guarantee to build its American Centrifuge Project in southern Ohio.
Last week, the Department of Energy has announced it plans to work with the developer of the Piketon uranium enrichment project on research and development. However, the loan guarantee application from USEC Inc. is still pending.
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, issued the following response to the ongoing discussions between the Department of Energy and the American Centrifuge Project’s (ACP) strategic partners: "While these ongoing discussions between the DOE and USEC appear positive, I continue to encourage the Obama administration to approve the conditional loan for ACP.
"The workers supporting this important national security and energy security project deserve certainty after waiting for more than three years for a final decision. I am committed to working constructively with the Administration, USEC and workers in Piketon to find a path forward.”
The plant to be built in Piketon would be at the site of the former gaseous diffusion plant that enriched uranium. It would produce enriched uranium for use in generating electricity at nuclear power plants.
In an Oct. 30 report by the Dayton Daily News, the Department of Energy will need congressional approval to spend the money, and time is running out.
"USEC plans to send out layoff notices and reduce investment in the plant by 30 percent if they don’t receive the loan guarantee by Tuesday, Nov. 2," the DDN reported. "Another catch: USEC and the DOE announced earlier this year that they had reached an agreement to set a November 2011 deadline for USEC to secure funding for the project."
Energy Secretary Steven Chu acknowledged that congressional approval was “uncertain” in a letter to USEC CEO John Welch dated Oct. 27.
Sen. Portman has requested a meeting this week with DOE Secretary Steven Chu.
A spokesman for Portman told the DDN the wait has been too long. “After more than three years with a pending application and President Obama’s promised support, Senator Portman believes the people of Pike County and the surrounding area deserve an answer from the Department of Energy on the pending loan guarantee,” said Jeff Sadosky.
Sen. Sherrod Brown, called the project “important to the country and to job creation in Ohio.”[[In-content Ad]]