PADUCAH — The Department of Energy is creating a categorical exclusion for advanced nuclear reactors, which may impact nuclear project initiatives in McCracken County. Paducah Mayor George Bray is encouraging community members to post their reactions or questions on the Department of Energy’s public forum, which has many people concerned about the potential environmental impact on the community.

A categorical exclusion is established by the DOE’s National Environmental Policy Act and allows specific projects to proceed with certain environmental reviews if they are deemed to have no major environmental impacts.

“I feel like that when there’s an opportunity to make public comments about anything that, you know, people should have the opportunity to weigh in,” Bray said.

The reaction to public comments focused on which specific environmental reviews would be dismissed. Some comments stated they were excited about the benefits of nuclear energy and some had general questions, while others had negative reactions to the DOE.

“We urge the DOE to withdraw this proposal and maintain the requirement for full environmental reviews for all advanced nuclear reactor projects,” Manna Jo Greene, a member of Indian Point Safe Energy, said. Greene lives in New York but heard of the DOE’s decision and how it could affect McCracken County. She decided to post her concern, even though she has no relation to the area.

“We’re all in this together, whatever state we’re in,” Greene said. She added that nuclear reactors can cause radioactivity and thermal pollution.

She worries that fast-tracking environmental regulations could lead to unanalyzed and unaddressed environmental impacts.

“It’s a fraud on the public because nuclear reactors emit a large amount of radioactivity, radioactive ionizing radiation that causes illness, not only cancers, but other illnesses,” Susan Shapiro, environmental attorney and member of the IPSE, said.

Shapiro said nuclear reactors do not produce zero emissions and warned that failing to conduct all environmental reviews could lead to dangerous outcomes. Shapiro believes that renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and geothermal are sustainable and cost-effective compared to nuclear energy.

With an Artificial Intelligence data center set to be constructed this year and the push for nuclear reactors, Shapiro warns that because nuclear enrichment is conducted in McCracken County, the area has produced large amounts of fossil fuels. She worries that the combination of nuclear and fossil fuel contamination could be alarming without full environmental reviews.

“There’s a lot of people looking at this, and we are resolute in that this is going to be good for our community,” Bray said.

He said that while there has been concern with nuclear energy, it is clean and cost-effective. While certain environmental reviews may not be conducted, he said advancements in technology minimize potential risks.

“Technology is now bringing it forward in a way that it will be more economical and it will be safe,” Bray said.

He said he believes the government is heading in the right direction by fast-tracking nuclear power. He wants to emphasize that not all environmental regulations are going away, and that it’s the responsible choice to increase nuclear initiatives in McCracken County.

“It’s the future of energy worldwide and in the United States,” McCracken County Judge Executive Craig Clymer said.

Clymer said that with the new data center set to be constructed in McCracken County, the community needs reliable power, which nuclear energy provides. He said he anticipates that one or more nuclear reactors will be built within four to five years.

“I am 100% for nuclear,” Bray said. “I think it’s going to be a boon to our community.”

Public comments on the DOE’s portal will be open until March 4. For more information or to submit a comment, click here.

Bray said there will be a public forum about nuclear energy in the area on April 1, though the exact time and location have yet to be announced.