US to resurrect Cold War-era 190,000-square-foot nuclear plant

The U.S. Department of Energy has signed a lease with General Matter to repurpose the dormant Fuels and Materials Examination Facility at the Hanford Site into a center for advanced nuclear fuel technologies.

This initiative is part of a federal effort to enhance domestic energy supplies, particularly for the growing artificial intelligence sector. General Matter will evaluate upgrades needed to revitalize the 190,000-square-foot facility, aiming to transform it into a commercial asset for Central Washington.

“FMEF can be transformed into an asset to unleash American energy dominance,” noted Tim Walsh from the DOE. General Matter also plans construction on a Kentucky facility to meet energy demands by the early 2030s.