WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) visited the American Centrifuge Project (ACP) at Piketon to give an update on progress at the plant. In late July, USEC submitted its updated loan guarantee application to DOE.  Brown is working with the U.S. Department of Energy to help USEC secure a loan guarantee for the ACP construction that would bring thousands of jobs to the area.

 “USEC’s American Centrifuge Project is investing billions of dollars to provide our nation with a secure source of domestic energy for the next century. No other place in the world is doing what we are doing right here and the thousands of Ohio jobs that go along with it are critically important to this region,” Brown said. “The Administration is committed to putting USEC in the strongest position possible and I am committed to fighting for this loan guarantee. I’ve worked to move the cleanup date forward by 20 years, the first of many steps to ensure the site is redeveloped for future economic development and jobs. Together we can make this site the economic engine that it once was – and to put it back to work serving our nation.”

Brown has been fighting for federal funds to promote economic development in Piketon. He is working closely with USEC and DOE to ensure facilitated coordination efforts for the American Centrifuge Project.  In February 2010, Brown worked with DOE to reach an agreement that USEC will transfer authority over uranium materials to DOE and match at least $45 million to invest in demonstration and technical activities to transition the American Centrifuge Project for commercial technological applications. These funds bolstered USEC’s application for the loan guarantee. In 2009, Brown helped obtain additional funds and investments in technical support for USEC’s ACP project.  

 

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