US to resurrect Cold War-era 190,000-square-foot nuclear plant after 30-year dormancy
Infusing life into a Cold War-era nuclear plant which was dormant for three decades, the US Department of Energy (DOE) officially signed a lease with General Matter to repurpose a massive facility at the Hanford Site.
The agreement, announced this week, aims to transform the 190,000-square-foot Fuels and Materials Examination Facility (FMEF)—which was completed in 1984 but has remained unused since 1993—into a hub for advanced nuclear fuel cycle technologies.
The move is part of a broader federal push to secure domestic energy supplies for the burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) sector, which requires massive amounts of reliable, around-the-clock baseload power.
This expansion into Washington state complements General Matter’s flagship project in Paducah, Kentucky, where the company was recently awarded a $900 million contract to accelerate the production of specialized fuel required by next-generation reactors.
Under the new mission, General Matter will begin site characterization and technical evaluations to assess the upgrades needed to return the 190,000-square-foot Hanford facility to service. Officials state the project will drive innovation and prosperity for the people of Central Washington by revitalizing a federal liability into a commercial asset.
Linked to global AI race
“FMEF can be transformed into an asset to unleash American energy dominance and drive innovation,” said Tim Walsh, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Environmental Management (EM). “We are putting this asset back to work for the American people.”
Groundwork has already begun at the Kentucky site, where crews are currently clearing land for a new enrichment plant. General Matter CEO Scott Nolan emphasized that rebuilding the US nuclear industrial base is the only way to reduce reliance on foreign providers and lower energy costs.
The revival of these legacy sites reflects a strategic pivot to treat nuclear fuel as a national security priority. With electricity consumption in the US expected to hit record highs in 2026, the race to provide clean, safe, baseload power has become inextricably linked to the global AI race.
Regarding the specific sites involved, the Hanford FMEF has been dormant for over 30 years and will now focus on fuel cycle research and materials.
The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant currently has site clearing underway on a 100-acre parcel of federal land for its future mission of commercial enrichment.
General Matter expects to begin construction on its primary Kentucky facility in 2026, with an operational target set to meet the energy needs of the early 2030s.
Broad industry momentum for infrastructure rejuvenation
The US is seeing an unprecedented wave of reactor restarts and new construction to meet the energy needs of the digital age. In Michigan, Holtec International recently applied for permits to build two SMR-300 reactors at the Palisades Energy Center, aiming for completion by the early 2030s.
This follows the historic restart of the site’s primary 800-megawatt reactor, which is expected to reconnect to the grid by the end of February 2026.
In a similar move to power AI infrastructure, Google has partnered with NextEra Energy to restart Iowa’s Duane Arnold Energy Center. Under a 25-year agreement, Google will purchase 600 megawatts of power from the facility, which is targeted for operation by early 2029.
Together, these projects signal a rapid shift toward utilizing existing nuclear assets to meet the country’s skyrocketing energy demands.