AI's Energy Demands Could Revive Paducah's Nuclear Legacy
By
Justine Calma
Sesame, salt, and substance. A flagship bake.
Summary
The article discusses how the growing energy demands of AI and data centers could revive Paducah, Kentucky's nuclear past, as the town was once a hub for uranium enrichment. The Department of Energy operated a uranium plant there for over 60 years, and the resurgence of nuclear energy could bring economic and infrastructural changes to the area. The piece highlights the intersection of technology, energy, and local history.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledPaducah, Kentucky — population 27,000 and home to the National Quilt Museum — prides itself as 'Quilt City.' But decades ago, it was also called the 'Atomic City.'
The Department of Energy (DOE) operated a uranium enrichment plant in Paducah for more than 60 years until the plant shuttered in 2013 amid a downturn in nuclear energy.
Data centers and AI are driving demand for nuclear energy, and that could revive a domestic uranium supply chain in the US.
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