Despite ongoing negotiations between G-E Hitachi and the Department of Energy the group tasked with mitigating economic losses from the closure of the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion plant has a lot of work to do. G-E is hoping to re-enrich spent uranium stored at the PGDP using laser technology.
Paducah Mayor Gayle Kaler chairs the Paducah Area Community Reuse Organization or PACRO. She said her group will continue to fulfill its mission by providing loans for economic development and pressing for site cleanup.
"As long as there is property out there, as long as cleanup is going on PACRO will still be a viable entity. And we expect cleanup to go on out there for 35 years," Kaler said.
Paducah Economic Development Vice President Charlie Martin said PACRO was formed in 1998, and was given a series of grants totaling about $10 million from the Department of Energy. PACRO has $2.3 million invested in outstanding loans and $3.7 in remaining assets.
