UK-administered KNEDA awards $8 million in inaugural grants
LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 13, 2026) — The Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority (KNEDA), which is attached to the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) for administrative purposes, announced the first recipients of the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Grant Program last Thursday in Frankfort.
Grants totaling $8 million were awarded to six organizations to support the growth of the Commonwealth’s nuclear energy ecosystem, ranging from workforce development to site readiness.
“The KNEDA grants focus on building the nuclear energy ecosystem within Kentucky through education, workforce development and accelerating nuclear energy adoption,” said Rodney Andrews, Ph.D., CAER director and KNEDA chair. “The projects supported by this program position Kentucky to capitalize on advanced nuclear technologies.”
Kentucky has a long history as a national energy leader, which established a legacy of technical expertise and industrial infrastructure. This plan for advanced nuclear development fits within the University of Kentucky’s commitment, as the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, to advance the Commonwealth through transformative research and service. By leveraging Kentucky’s nuclear-ready legacy, UK and KNEDA are positioning the state to lead the next generation of energy production and manufacturing.
The 2026 grant awardees include:
- American Electric Power: To identify potential sites for small modular reactors through environmental reviews and geotechnical testing.
- General Matter: To develop a statewide roadmap for building nuclear supply chain manufacturing capacity in Kentucky.
- Global Laser Enrichment: To launch a workforce training program for the planned Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility.
- Shaping Our Appalachian Region: To expand nuclear energy workforce readiness and training capacity across Eastern Kentucky.
- West Kentucky Community and Technical College: To establish a regional hub for nuclear industry education, including a control room simulator.
- West Kentucky Educational Cooperative: To implement a STEM-focused nuclear energy curriculum across nine rural counties.
KNEDA was established by the 2024 Kentucky General Assembly to coordinate nuclear strategy and assist communities in becoming “nuclear-ready.”
“We are living in the beginning of what will be historic a moment in the history of energy in our commonwealth,” said state Sen. Danny Carroll, who sponsored the legislation creating the program, and hosted the event on Thursday. “The steps we are taking today will help shape the future of our state and position Kentucky to lead as the world moves toward advanced nuclear technologies. I sincerely thank everyone involved in taking this next step in expanding Kentucky’s energy and economic footprint.”
The authority continues to serve as the nonregulatory, trusted state agency for nuclear development, focusing on economic opportunities that protect the environment while supporting community voices. For more information, visit caer.uky.edu/kneda.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.