By The Associated Press
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Department of Energy says it no longer expects to provide $30 million for demonstration work at the site of a proposed uranium-enrichment plant in southern Ohio.
The DOE says in Washington that Congress didn't grant the funding request, and the department doesn't see a way to provide it for work at the American Centrifuge site in Piketon. It also noted that USEC Inc. has reported equipment delays at the location.
The money was meant for testing and development to show the progress needed to gain a $2 billion loan guarantee for financing to build the plant. Thursday's announcement looms as another setback for the project.
A spokeswoman for Bethesda, Md.-based USEC says the company will continue to work with DOE to find ways to move forward with the project.