Oak Ridge Transfers 700 Acres for $6.7B Energy Project

A former uranium enrichment complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is getting a stunning second life as a nuclear innovation hub, thanks to decades of cleanup work that just unlocked 700 acres for private development.

The Department of Energy completed its largest land transfer to date in March 2026, handing over two parcels to the city. Two nuclear companies immediately announced plans to invest a combined $6.7 billion at the sites, with 1,100 jobs expected to follow.

Orano USA will build a $5 billion uranium enrichment facility on the larger 624-acre parcel. The massive Project IKE plant will span 750,000 square feet and become one of North America's largest uranium enrichment facilities when production begins in 2031.

The second company, Oklo Inc., plans a $1.68 billion fuel recycling facility on the smaller 77-acre plot. The groundbreaking operation will create more than 800 jobs producing fuel for advanced nuclear reactors by the early 2030s.

Getting here wasn't easy. Cleanup crews demolished over 500 buildings covering the equivalent of 225 football fields. They hauled away 50,000 dump truck loads of contaminated soil, transforming a shuttered government complex into pristine industrial land.

Oak Ridge Mayor Warren Gooch says the transfer reflects years of careful planning between the city and federal government. The goal was ensuring unused federal property could meet national energy needs while creating local economic opportunity.

The transformation keeps accelerating. To date, Oak Ridge has received 2,532 acres of transferred land from the Department of Energy. More than 25 businesses have already moved in or announced plans to build, representing $10 billion in projected investment and 2,500 private sector jobs.

The Ripple Effect

Oak Ridge's evolution from defense site to energy innovation center shows what's possible when cleanup meets vision. The city that helped win World War II through secret atomic research is now positioning itself to help meet America's growing clean energy demands.

The transfer brings world-class scientific infrastructure and talent together with companies developing next-generation nuclear technology. That combination could accelerate breakthroughs in both nuclear fuel production and advanced reactor design.

City Manager Randy Hemann notes that with industrial sites filling quickly and nuclear sector demand rising, access to developable land has become critical. These transfers ensure Oak Ridge can continue growing thoughtfully while supporting both economic development and responsible land use.

The cleanup contractor, United Cleanup Oak Ridge, turned what could have been a permanent environmental liability into a thriving economic asset. Their work proves that environmental restoration and economic growth don't have to compete.

Land once dedicated to national defense will once again serve the nation through innovation and clean energy development.