The Nuclear Company has announced Prosperity One, a proposed nuclear energy campus in Lewis County, Kentucky, that could accommodate up to six Westinghouse AP1000 reactors generating approximately 6.6 gigawatts of electricity.

The announcement, dated October 21, 2026, positions the project as Kentucky's first commercial nuclear power project and, if fully constructed, the largest nuclear power campus in the United States and one of the largest in the world.

The Largest Nuclear Generation Site in the Country

Located along the Ohio River in eastern Kentucky, the proposed development is planned as a phased buildout with a combined generating capacity of approximately 6,600 megawatts.

According to the company, the project answers President Trump's call to accelerate American energy production and represents a step toward restoring the United States' ability to build nuclear power at scale, while bringing industrial investment, skilled jobs, and long-term economic opportunity to a region the company says helped power the nation for more than a century.

The first phase is planned to begin with two AP1000 reactors, should the site pass diligence, feasibility, and permitting.

Site Control and Local Partnership

The Nuclear Company, which holds site control in the area, will partner with local landowners and community leaders in Lewis County to advance the proposed campus. Sam Howard, a lifelong resident of Lewis County, owns the site and has partnered with the company to advance the project.

"I have nine grandchildren, and all of them live in Lewis County. I want them to have the opportunity to stay," said Howard. "For years, our county's unemployment rate has been among the highest in the state. An infrastructure project like this could provide jobs and economic opportunities for generations of Eastern Kentucky residents."

Joe Klecha, Chief Nuclear Officer for The Nuclear Company, framed the project in regional terms. "For generations, communities along the Ohio River have formed America's industrial backbone," he said. "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."

Leadership Experience Behind the Project

Klecha, a former licensed senior reactor operator, brings 33 years of nuclear experience, from U.S. Navy nuclear submarines to operations leadership at some of America's largest nuclear fleets.

At Vogtle Units 3 and 4, he held construction and operational readiness leadership roles. The company's Services division has performed maintenance at more than 40 percent of America's currently operating nuclear power facilities.

The Nuclear Company states that its approach is grounded in the belief that major infrastructure projects succeed when the communities hosting them are active participants in their development.

A Nuclear-Ready Community Designation

Lewis County will be among Kentucky's first counties to request designation as a nuclear-ready community under the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority. County leaders unanimously launched the effort in July 2026, held public input meetings, and earlier this month voted overwhelmingly to submit the county's filing to the Authority.

Project planning will address transportation, housing, environmental stewardship, emergency preparedness, water use, and other considerations associated with developing a nuclear campus of this scale.

The Path to Construction in 2028

The Nuclear Company plans to begin site development activities and pursue the federal approvals necessary to begin construction in 2028. With the proposed site identified, the company is preparing to advance the engineering, environmental, regulatory, and commercial work required to move Prosperity One toward construction.

Initial activities will include detailed site characterization, geotechnical investigations, environmental assessments, transmission interconnection planning, and preparation for federal nuclear licensing. The company will engage the Nuclear Regulatory Commission through its established licensing processes, with the objective of obtaining the necessary approvals to begin construction in 2028.

The Nuclear Company says it will work closely with the U.S. Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and local stakeholders to advance the proposed development on an accelerated schedule while meeting applicable safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements.

The AP1000 Reactor and Its Regulatory Position

The AP1000 is a Generation III+ nuclear reactor incorporating passive safety systems and modular construction techniques. According to the company, it is the only commercially available large reactor design with operating units in the United States and is ready for fleet-scale deployment. Its standardized design, operating experience, and modular construction approach, the company says, make it uniquely positioned to support an efficient, repeatable buildout on a greenfield site such as Prosperity One.

On October 14, 2026, the NRC announced renewal of the AP1000 design certification and incorporation of Revision 20 of its design control document, reflecting changes made through the licensing, construction, and operation of Vogtle Units 3 and 4. The updated, standardized design basis is intended to improve regulatory clarity, avoid unnecessary re-review, and streamline future AP1000 licensing activities. The company notes that Prosperity One will still require its own site-specific reviews and approvals.

The AP1000 technology is already operating commercially in the United States at Plant Vogtle in Georgia, where Units 3 and 4 entered service in 2023.

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