Study to Guide Paducah Site Reindustrialization Nears Completion

Paducah Site stakeholders, from left, Paducah City Mayor George Bray, Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Sandra Wilson, Kentucky State Sen. Danny Carroll, Greater Paducah Economic Development President/CEO Bruce Wilcox, Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering & Testing Inc./Marcum Engineering LLC Project Manager Maegan Mansfield and McCracken County Judge Executive Craig Clymer represent the Paducah community at the Idaho Falls Energy Communities Alliance New Nuclear Conference.

PADUCAH, Ky. — The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Paducah Site continues its transformation from the cleanup of legacy uranium enrichment operations into a driver for regional economic growth with assistance of a study from the Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce. The chamber’s study, called “Preparing the Roadmap for the Future,” began in 2023, and achieved several key milestones. The findings from the study are set to publish later this year.

“We were honored to be selected to execute this study,” Paducah Area Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Sandra Wilson said. “Our goal is to provide the local community with a comprehensive roadmap for the future of the DOE Paducah Site.”

The chamber awarded a subcontract to Bacon Farmer Workman Engineering & Testing Inc./Marcum Engineering LLC of Paducah, Kentucky, to conduct the study and work with Geosyntec Consultants, a consulting firm of engineers and scientists out of Knoxville, Tennessee, to tackle complex problems involving the environment and civil infrastructure.

The chamber has been proactive in the study to align the community’s long term vision with the submission of the first formal land transfer request — approximately 150 acres for economic development — representing a pivotal move toward repurposing the site for industries in energy, nuclear, technology and manufacturing.

“Securing land was one of the first steps in building a new vision for site reindustrialization,” said Wilson. “Our study takes a comprehensive approach to facilitating land transfer, identifying development prospects, and addressing workforce needs.”

To date, infrastructure planning and conceptual designs have progressed for public water and sewer utilities for the site to develop the land for reuse. Additional discussions will ensue for future power, road access and rail connectivity. The study also evaluated the availability of utilities and assessed transportation and power infrastructure needs with ongoing coordination as DOE continues to ensure alignment with the site’s future development requirements.

“Establishing this roadmap through the study conducted by the chamber is crucial to realizing the vision for the future of the site,” Portsmouth Paducah Project Office Manager Joel Bradburne said. “Our cleanup strategy is closely tied to the efforts of this study to align our fieldwork to create opportunities for the community.”

In partnership with Greater Paducah Economic Development, the chamber’s study also focuses on economic development opportunities outside of the current industrial footprint at the Paducah Site. As the study progresses, several companies are expressing interest in establishing operations at the site as part of the broader reindustrialization strategy.

In addition to infrastructure improvements, workforce development remains a priority. The study’s Workforce Development Working Group has aligned educational programs with industry needs. With a labor force of over 31,000 evaluated by the study, the Paducah region is well-positioned to support emerging employment opportunities for reindustrialization at the site.

Looking ahead, the final “Preparing the Roadmap for the Future” study will present detailed strategies for property reuse, industry recruitment and community engagement. Ultimately, it will assist the Paducah Site with transforming liabilities into opportunities to unleash American energy, support national security and enable U.S. innovation and jobs.

-Contributor: Dylan Nichols