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

COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio State University, in collaboration with NuScale Power Corporation, recently unveiled its new Energy Exploration (E2) Center in Columbus, Ohio. Marketed as an innovative educational hub for the nuclear workforce of the future, the initiative is drawing criticism for promoting small modular reactor (SMR) technology without fully addressing the significant challenges it poses, particularly in nuclear waste management and long-term environmental impacts.

NORTH PERRY, OH — A report from Vistra Corp., the parent company of the Perry Nuclear Power Plant, has revealed that at least 78 gallons of water containing radioactive contaminants were spilled at the facility throughout 2024. The spills, linked to handling errors with radiological waste containers, are raising concerns about environmental safety and the health risks associated with the plant's operations.

PIKETON, OH — A newly released Department of Energy (DOE) report has exposed alarming radioactive contamination and environmental failures at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, Ohio. The findings, buried in an annual update to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), reveal ongoing risks to public health and safety as radioactive waste cleanup efforts falter under questionable oversight.

PIKETON, OH — The American Centrifuge Plant at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Site has released its Third Quarter 2024 Radiological Discharge Monitoring Report, revealing the continued presence of radioactive materials in discharged water. While the reported levels remain within regulatory limits, the detectable contamination highlights ongoing concerns for environmental safety and public health in the surrounding community.

PIKETON, OH — While the X-326 Process Building at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PORTS) has been demolished and its debris buried in an on-site waste dump, recent reports reveal that plutonium and other radioactive contaminants remain in the subslab, which has yet to be removed. Plans for its removal are currently under review, as discussions surface about the site’s future, including the possibility of a data center development.