A new record-breaking project in the United States: a gigantic 6.6-gigawatt nuclear complex in Kentucky.

American company for development and implementation of nuclear projects The Nuclear Company presented plans for the construction of a massive energy complex in Lewis County in Kentucky, which with a total capacity of 6.6 gigawatts would become the largest nuclear power plant in the United States

The project named Prosperity One is planned in partnership with the local landowner and the Trace Creek Construction company, and envisions phased construction up to as many as six AP1000 reactors from Vestinghaus. The start of the first phase, which includes the construction of the first two reactors, targets 2028 already, while initial activities include geological surveys, environmental impact assessments, planning for grid connection possibilities, and preparations for licensing with federal regulatory authorities.

The company's management and local officials emphasize that this infrastructure project brings long-term jobs, economic revival and strengthening of the tax base for the Eastern Kentucky region, which has been dealing with a high unemployment rate for years. Interestingly, The Nuclear Company this May also entered into a partnership with the global investment firm Brookfield to lead the completion of two partially built AP1000 blocks at the VC Summer site in South Carolina – whose construction was halted in 2017.

Comment

Therefore, just a day after the announcement of a potential project in Indiana with up to 6 gigawatts using Canadian CANDU reactors, the announcement of plans for the giant complex of 6.6 GW in Kentucky clearly points to a new and, apparently, extremely strong trend in the American market. We wonder – are we witnessing a definitive shift toward high-capacity nuclear? We would say there is no doubt that it is so: this practice stands in complete opposition to the narrative that has been pushed to the forefront for years and promoted small modular reactors (SMR) as the primary solution. The unstoppable and urgent growth in demand for clean base-load energy on the grid shows that operators are directly turning to proven high-capacity reactors.

S.A.