In the Spotlight: Steve Long

Morning, friends - Logan here. I hope you got to enjoy the wonderful, cooler, weather we had around Kentucky this weekend. I got to go on a hike with my dad at Red River Gorge - it was glorious.

This week, I’m excited to share an interview diving into the role Kentucky could play in the next era of the nuclear energy. I was joined by Steve Long, the CEO of Global Laser Enrichment (GLE). GLE is working to commercialize an advanced laser technology called the SILEX process ("Separation of Isotopes by Laser EXcitation") for nuclear fuel production. Their work focuses on improving how uranium is processed and enriched, making it more efficient, more secure, and better aligned with the current trajectory of the nuclear industry.

Thanks to partnerships with the Department of Energy, GLE is advancing plans to bring that innovation to Paducah, Kentucky, where it plans to build a new uranium enrichment facility next to a site that once played a major role in the nation’s nuclear supply chain - the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant. GLE’s project aims to reuse depleted uranium stored on the Paducah site from decades of enrichment operations, converting it back into usable nuclear fuel. The partnership with the Department of Energy comes as part of an effort to revitalize America’s domestic uranium enrichment capability as we prepare to bring more nuclear energy production online. GLE’s plant is projected to be operational by 2030, with multi-billion-dollar investment and hundreds of jobs created during construction and operation.

In addition to GLE’s project, the DOE also signed a lease in August with General Matter, a startup backed by Founders Fund, to develop a $1.5 billion uranium enrichment facility on a 100-acre parcel at the site. Their facility is set to be operational in 2034.

As momentum builds behind America’s nuclear revitalization, Kentucky - more specifically, Paducah - has a very real opportunity to be positioned in the middle of it.

What We Discussed:

Laser enrichment, explained

How GLE’s laser technology is making uranium enrichment more efficient, scalable, and energy-conscious rather than traditional methods.

Paducah’s energy legacy reimagined

Why the former gaseous diffusion site is being transformed into a cornerstone for America’s modern nuclear industry.

Restoring energy independence

The role this project plays in reducing reliance on foreign enrichment and meeting the rising power demand driven by AI and advanced manufacturing.

Economic impact in Western Kentucky

How GLE’s investment could create hundreds of high-skill jobs and spark new opportunities in advanced manufacturing and workforce development.

Innovation and human progress

A broader look at how advancements in nuclear energy connect to long-term growth, sustainability, and technological leadership.

Listen to the episode on Spotify

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts

We hope you enjoy this episode! If you have any thoughts after listening, feel free to shoot me a message at [email protected]

Have a great week, friends!

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