LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company are evaluating the potential development of small modular nuclear reactors as part of a broader strategy to meet increasing energy demand across the state.
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The utilities announced they have begun early-stage feasibility studies in partnership with X-energy to assess the viability of deploying the company’s Xe-100 reactor technology in Kentucky.
The initiative comes as Kentucky continues to expand its energy planning efforts. In 2024, the state established the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority to support nuclear energy development, followed by a 2025 investigation into nuclear regulation by the Kentucky Public Service Commission.
More recently, state leaders approved the Nuclear Reactor Site Readiness Pilot Program, which includes $75 million in funding to support studies, permitting and licensing for potential nuclear projects.
“On the heels of the Nuclear Reactor Site Readiness Pilot Program being signed into law this month, we’re proud to work with X-energy to explore bringing nuclear energy to Kentucky to support the significant pipeline of new projects in our service territories where large load customers can support the cost structure," said John R. Crockett III, president of LG&E and KU. "We have an all-of-the-above approach to our power generation fleet that’s among the most reliable in the nation."
The companies say the feasibility work will evaluate how small modular reactors could help meet long-term electricity demand, particularly as large energy users such as data centers continue to expand.
Officials emphasized that the study will also examine how advanced nuclear technology could strengthen grid reliability while supporting economic development across the region.
"Kentucky's energy leadership and skilled workforce create a strong foundation for evaluating advanced nuclear deployment," said J. Clay Sell, CEO of X-energy. "This collaboration allows us to explore how the Xe-100 can support the Commonwealth's growing electricity demands while strengthening grid reliability and creating economic opportunity across the region."
Small modular reactors, or SMRs, are designed to be more flexible and scalable than traditional nuclear plants, offering the potential for lower upfront costs and shorter construction timelines.
Utility leaders say the effort is part of a broader evaluation of long-term, reliable energy sources as Kentucky’s demand continues to grow, driven in part by industrial development and the expansion of high-energy-use facilities.
While the project remains in the early study phase, the collaboration signals increasing interest in nuclear energy as a viable component of future power generation strategies in the United States.
Originally reported by Cody Swinney in Whas 11.
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