Six AP1000 reactors eyed for Kentucky nuclear power facility

In the latest example of Westinghouse's AP1000 being proposed for new nuclear power capacity, project development firm The Nuclear Company has announced plans to deploy up to six AP1000s along the Ohio River in eastern Kentucky.

Dubbed Prosperity One, the proposed power plant site would generate approximately 6.6 GW of new nuclear power if six reactors are ultimately deployed. Not only would it become Kentucky's first nuclear power plant, but it could also become the largest nuclear power generation site in the United States, the company said on Wednesday.

"For generations, communities along the Ohio River have formed America's industrial backbone," said Chief Nuclear Officer Joe Klecha in a statement. "We are proud to partner with the community to apply our team's collective experience to deliver lasting jobs, a stronger tax base, and reliable power for Kentucky."

About the project: According to the announcement, work will begin on site development and licensing activities with a plan to commence construction in 2028. The Prosperity One website describes a phased approach to deployment, starting with two reactor units, subject to site studies, licensing, a grid-connection agreement, and financing.

But just like other announcements earlier this week from neighboring Indiana, The Nuclear Company provided few details. No specifics were provided on the size of the site, the construction schedule or start date, owners, financing, and grid connection.

The Nuclear Company, which has site control, did list Lewis County, Ky., resident Sam Howard as the owner of the site and named him as a partner working to advance the project. The Prosperity One website cites a property in Carrs Bottom, an area near Vanceburg. News coverage in the Lewis County Herald said Howard acquired 738 acres in Carrs Bottom over the summer.

As part of efforts to advance nuclear development in the region, this summer, Lewis County began pursuing a designation as a nuclear-ready community under the state's Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority. According to the designation guidelines, applicants must demonstrate their readiness by conducting multiple community meetings, identifying potential sites for nuclear development, and adopting local resolutions or ballot initiatives in support of nuclear development.

"With the proposed site identified, The Nuclear Company is preparing to advance the engineering, environmental, regulatory, and commercial work required to move Prosperity One toward construction," the company's announcement said. "Initial activities will include detailed site characterization, geotechnical investigations, environmental assessments, transmission interconnection planning, and preparation for federal nuclear licensing."

Further context: Wednesday's news seems to fit with the early October announcement regarding the U.S.-South Korea deal. One of the key pieces in the $120 billion investment in domestic nuclear projects included eight reactors, six of them being AP1000s. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Kentucky would receive some of these reactors. The Nuclear Company, however, didn't specify if any of its proposed AP1000s for Kentucky are related to the deal with South Korea.

The company's interest in Westinghouse reactors, including its flagship AP1000, predates Wednesday's announcement. In the spring, the company and global investment firm Brookfield announced plans to form a new company devoted to projects involving Westinghouse reactors. Brookfield, a co-owner of Westinghouse, anticipates that the joint company could also complete Units 2 and 3 at the V.C. Summer plant in South Carolina.

If Prosperity One does deploy six large reactors, it would surpass the four-unit, 4,567-MWe Vogtle plant in Georgia as the largest nuclear power plant in the nation.