PIKETON, Ohio — In a recent public meeting held on Thursday, September 7, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), in conjunction with Centrus Energy Corporation and the Department of Energy (DOE), discussed the future of High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) production in Pike County.
Centrus Energy Corporation, a prominent nuclear fuel and services provider, is spearheading efforts to produce HALEU at its Piketon facility. HALEU is expected to power both existing reactors and the next generation of advanced nuclear reactors. However, the challenges and potential hazards at this facility, coupled with its history of contamination at the neighboring Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant, raise significant concerns.
The Piketon atomic site has a troubling history of contamination, including radioactive materials, hazardous substances, and worker exposure to high-level doses of radiation. Despite Centrus’ claims of a comprehensive safety plan, skepticism lingers due to the site’s tainted past. The presence of radioactive dump sites and a substantial soil TCE plume near the facility further intensifies environmental and safety concerns.
Currently operating with 16 centrifuges, the facility can enrich uranium hexafluoride (UF6) up to 10%, with plans to expand to over 10,000 centrifuges and an enrichment capability of up to 20%. It’s vital to note that the existing emergency plans are tailored for low-level production involving only the initial 16 centrifuges, leaving questions about the adequacy of safety measures for larger-scale operations.
“The domestic source of HALEU we are building in Piketon is urgently needed to power a new generation of reactors to meet the growing global need for carbon-free energy. This work puts Piketon at the forefront of the clean energy economy and all of the jobs and opportunities it can create. Our operations in Piketon already support more than 120 high-paying jobs for hardworking Ohioans. A potential expansion to commercial scale production would enable us to mobilize hundreds of union workers to help us build and operate the plant,” said a spokesperson for the company.
In July, 96 U.S. Senators, cast their votes in favor of an amendment to the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. The amendment’s aim is to “mandate the Secretary of Energy to establish a Nuclear Fuel Security Program, expand the American Assured Fuel Supply, establish a HALEU for Advanced Nuclear Reactor Demonstration Projects Program, and submit a report on a civil nuclear credit program, and to enhance programs to build workforce capacity to meet critical mission needs of the Department of Energy.”
A spokesperson from Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown’s Office emphasized that the proposed amendment’s passage represents a significant stride towards reducing reliance on Russian-origin-enriched uranium.
According to the Department of Energy, the United States requires production of 40 metric tons to eliminate foreign nuclear fuel dependence entirely.
Republican Representative Brad Wenstrup said in a statement last year that he is proud to fight for the funding to bring nuclear fuel back to Pike County. “The High-Assay-Low-Enriched-Uranium Demonstration Project is a significant step forward for fully domestic enrichment technology, and I am proud to have fought for funding to ensure this project continues to move forward.”
Over the years, Centrus Energy Corporation, according to the political watchdog group “Follow the Money”, has made campaign donations to several elected officials in Ohio from 2016-2022.
List of politicians who have received campaign donations from Centrus Energy Corporation from 2016 to 2022 include:
- Marcy Kaptur
- Bill Johnson
- David Joyce
- Tim Ryan
- Brad Wenstrup
- Mike Turner
- Sherrod Brown
- Rob Portman
- Steven Chabot
- Steve Stivers
- Pat Tiberi
- Mike DeWine
However, this optimism for nuclear independence is met with strong criticism from activists, who cite the history of the neighboring Gaseus Diffusion plant, and the alarmingly high cancer rates among Pike County’s population.
As per the Ohio Department of Health, Pike County’s cancer incidence rate between 2014 and 2018 exceeded the state average by 14% and the national average by 19%. The county predominantly sees cases of Lung and Bronchus cancer, along with elevated rates of Breast Cancer among female residents. A study led by Joseph J. Mangano, MHP, MPA, an epidemiologist and the executive director of the Radiation and Public Health Project, further highlighted that Pike County boasts the highest cancer rates among Ohio’s 88 counties.
The development of HALEU and the decommissioning of the GDP aren’t the sole ongoing projects. Recently, OKLO, an advanced nuclear reactor manufacturer based in Santa Clara, California, announced a partnership with the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative (SODI) to establish two nuclear power plants on the site. These new advanced reactors would eventually be fueled by Centrus-produced HALEU.
Additionally, a collaboration has been forged between TerraPower, owned by Bill Gates, and Centrus to supply their upcoming experimental facility in Wyoming with the same nuclear fuel that is being produced in the current demonstration cascade. In a recent tweet, Centrus expressed strong support from Bill Gates for expanding HALEU-fueled reactors, with plans to pioneer U.S. HALEU production by year-end. This production expansion aims to facilitate the global deployment of these advanced technologies. TerraPower under the leadership of Bill Gates, hopes to create 5 more nuclear plants by the year 2035.
Known widely as the founder of Microsoft, Gates has emerged as a staunch advocate for nuclear energy despite the potential dangers. “Nuclear energy, if done correctly, will aid us in achieving our climate objectives,” Gates remarked in an interview with ABC News.
HALEU Production Process and Future Outlook:
HALEU production relies on the gaseous diffusion method, a resource-intensive process that Centrus is exploring ways to make more efficient, such as laser enrichment. However, these efforts do not diminish the concerns related to the Piketon’s past contamination and the adequacy of safety measures.
While the future of HALEU holds promise for nuclear energy advancement, an unsettling undercurrent persists. A cautious stance is not merely advisable but essential, as the haunting specter of safety protocols and environmental repercussions looms large, fueled by the site’s tumultuous history.
