PIKETON, OH – The Department of Energy (DOE) is intensifying its efforts to engage local youth in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through programs at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS). While these initiatives are presented as valuable educational opportunities, there is growing concern that they serve as a recruitment pipeline for future workers at a site with a legacy of health hazards and a controversial future in nuclear energy.

COLUMBUS, OH — The Ohio Nuclear Development Authority (ONDA) has emerged as a controversial entity, tucked into the state budget without public debate or independent legislative approval. Critics have called ONDA a “shadowy state agency” that is heavily influenced by industry insiders and corporate interests, reigniting concerns about transparency and the risks associated with nuclear energy expansion.

PIKETON, OH—The Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS), once a hub for uranium enrichment, is at the center of a contentious redevelopment plan that seeks to transform the decommissioned site into an industrial hub for energy and manufacturing. While the redevelopment plan, led by the PORTSfuture program and the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative (SODI), promises economic growth and environmental sustainability, the inclusion of nuclear energy projects has ignited significant local and environmental opposition.

PIKETON, OH – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced performance-based fee payments totaling millions of dollars to contractors tasked with nuclear cleanup across the country, including at Piketon’s Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. While these payments are framed as a sign of progress, critics are raising alarm over the system’s broader implications, questioning whether taxpayer dollars are being effectively used.

COLUMBUS, OH — In a controversial move, the Ohio legislature has passed House Bill 308, a measure that officially defines nuclear energy as “green energy.” The bill, which has now been sent to Governor Mike DeWine’s desk for approval, has sparked outrage among environmental advocates and public health experts, who argue that it misrepresents the realities of nuclear power.

NRC Approval Paves Way for Centrus Energy's Nuclear Expansion Amid Rising Concerns