In 1950, the Atomic Energy Commission, a predecessor agency to DOE, selected a 3,556-acre tract of government-owned land near Paducah, Kentucky, as the location to construct a second gaseous diffusion uranium enrichment plant (GDP) to support US national security needs. The Paducah GDP enriched uranium from 1952 to 2013 and was the last government-owned uranium enrichment facility operating in the United States. The Paducah GDP produced low-enriched uranium originally as feedstock for nuclear weapons materials and later for commercial nuclear power plants. Watch the video below to learn more about Paducah.
Paducah News
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The Portsmouth Paducah Project Office recently met a DOE Office of Environmental Management priority for 2025 after successfully converting more than 1,000 cylinders of depleted uranium hexafluoride into a safer, more stable oxide form. August 26, 2025August 26, 2025
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Recent agreements & partnerships to provide land & a portion of a legacy coproduct from the former uranium enrichment process to commercial partners is turning liabilities into assets, accelerating production of domestic energy supplies. August 12, 2025August 12, 2025
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Crews have safely demolished six unused facilities at the Paducah Site ahead of schedule and under budget in the current fiscal year. August 5, 2025August 5, 2025
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The Department of Energy’s 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. July 29, 2025July 29, 2025
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Officials are a step closer to the first land transfer at the Paducah Site for future reuse and economic development. July 22, 2025July 22, 2025
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Leaders from the Portsmouth Paducah Project Office (PPPO) met with representatives from the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority (KNEDA) during their first visit to the Paducah Site. July 15, 2025July 15, 2025
Joel B. Bradburne was named Manager of the Department of Energy's Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office (PPPO) on December 13, 2021. In this role, he oversees the deactivation and demolition of the former gaseous diffusion facilities at the Portsmouth, Ohio and Paducah, Kentucky sites, and the Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride (DUF6) Conversion Project at both locations.
Click here to view full bio.
High-Level Budget Information
FY22 Enacted (in the millions) | FY23 Request (in the millions) | FY23 Enacted (in the millions) | FY24 Enacted (in the millions) | FY24 Enacted (in the millions) | FY25 Requested (in the millions) |
| $319 | $282 | $330 | $304 | $334 | $330 |
For more information on the Office of Environmental Management's budget process and performance check out the Budget & Performance page.