The U.S. Department of Energy’s community reuse organization at the Portsmouth Site is seeing decades of efforts to redevelop the former gaseous diffusion plant pay off.
Office of Environmental Management
November 3, 2026
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Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative (SODI) staff and board members participate in a celebration at the Centrus facility, shown in background, on the Portsmouth Site. Centrus recently announced an expansion to support uranium enrichment. From left, SODI Board Member Tom Woltz, Administrative Assistant Donna Carson, Board Chair Herman Potter, Board Member Ryan Clemmons, Board Member Carlton Cave, Ohio Lt. Gov. Jim Trussel and Board Member Jody Crabtree.
PIKETON, Ohio — The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) community reuse organization at the Portsmouth Site is seeing decades of efforts to redevelop the former gaseous diffusion plant pay off.
Over 350 acres have been transferred to the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative (SODI) from the Portsmouth Site, almost 10% of the original site footprint. Companies are making plans to unleash American energy, support national security and enable U.S. innovation and jobs.
Central to reuse of the site’s land is an American Energy Hub taking shape with a $33 billion investment that has changed the region’s trajectory. Earlier this year, SoftBank and AEP Ohio announced a unique public-private partnership to redevelop DOE land, modernize energy infrastructure and develop advanced computing in southern Ohio.
“The location of the Portsmouth Site was originally chosen for its secluded, rural nature and proximity to resources and infrastructure needed for industry,” Portsmouth Paducah Project Office Strategic Planner Greg Simonton said. “These same features are an asset in reindustrialization as the site still contains infrastructure beneficial to industry. SODI has been key in recognizing and promoting the site to industry partners and creating interest in reindustrialization.”
Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative board members vote at a recent board meeting. They meet monthly to discuss potential projects.
As a nonprofit maintained by a staff of only three, SODI has served as an important voice since forming in 1998. With assistance from Ohio University and its PORTSFuture program, the organization was able to plan and recruit future industry based on community feedback.
“We have known since the site ended uranium enrichment that the desire of the community is for the site to be cleaned up and made available for new industry,” SODI Legal Counsel Kevin Shoemaker said. “There were years of reaching out to developers to tell them about the benefits of building at the Portsmouth Site both for its valuable infrastructure and its capable workforce before it all started to come together. Now people are reaching out to us because the value of the site is well known.”
SODI keeps the community front of mind. Its board comprises 15 local leaders who meet monthly to discuss community needs and potential projects.
“SODI has already invested millions in the counties surrounding the Portsmouth Site,” SODI Executive Director Steve Shepherd said. “We have developed industrial parks, a GIS system, workforce training programs, a business incubator, and an entrepreneur loan fund to improve the quality of life for Jackson, Pike, Ross and Scioto counties through economic diversification, development of underutilized land and facilities on the Portsmouth Site, and continued support of local industry.”
Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative has a staff of three members. From left, Executive Director Steve Shepherd, Administrative Assistant Donna Carson and In-House Counsel Kevin Shoemaker.
Funding for SODI projects becomes available in two ways:
- Asset recovery, in which excess material from the site is reviewed for use by other departments and DOE sites. If not needed, the material goes to SODI to donate to the local community, resell or recycle.
- Building and property transfers from federal ownership. After evaluation and board approval, land is sold to industry to reindustrialize the Portsmouth Site.
“With the help of SODI, the Portsmouth Site is transforming to create space for a new American Energy Hub, new jobs for generations to come and economic vitality in the local community,” Simonton said.
-Contributor: Melissa Green
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