The Daily Dig
The Nuclear Company announced Prosperity One on October 21, 2026, a proposed nuclear campus in Lewis County, Kentucky. The site could host up to six Westinghouse AP1000 reactors generating about 6.6 gigawatts.
If fully built, the campus would be the largest nuclear power site in the United States. It would also be Kentucky’s first commercial nuclear power project.
Starting With a Pair
The campus is planned in phases, beginning with two AP1000 reactors. That first phase still depends on the site passing diligence, feasibility, and permitting.
The AP1000 is already running at Plant Vogtle in Georgia, where Units 3 and 4 entered service in 2023 and 2024. On October 14, 2026, the NRC announced renewal of the design certification, updated with lessons from Vogtle.
A certified design isn’t a free pass, though. Prosperity One still needs its own site reviews and approvals before construction can begin.
Dirt Work Before Steel
Plenty has to happen before the first foundation goes in. The company plans detailed site characterization, geotechnical investigations, environmental assessments, and transmission interconnection planning.
They’re also preparing for federal licensing, with the goal of starting construction in 2028. Planning will cover transportation, housing, water use, and emergency preparedness for a campus this size.
Boots on the Ground
Each reactor can employ up to 4,500 workers at peak construction. For comparison, Vogtle Units 3 and 4 reached about 9,000 workers.
The site belongs to Sam Howard, a lifelong Lewis County resident who has partnered with The Nuclear Company on the project.
“I have nine grandchildren, and all of them live in Lewis County. I want them to have the opportunity to stay,” said Howard. “For years, our county’s unemployment rate has been among the highest in the state.”
County leaders are on board as well. They unanimously launched an effort in July 2026 to seek nuclear ready community designation from the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority.
After holding public input meetings, they voted overwhelmingly in October 2026 to submit the county’s filing.
Snapshot:
Project: Prosperity One Nuclear Campus
Developer: The Nuclear Company
Site Owner: Sam Howard
Location: Lewis County, Kentucky, along the Ohio River
Sector: Nuclear power generation
Reactor Technology: Westinghouse AP1000 (Generation III+, passive safety, modular construction)
Scope: Up to six reactors, built in phases
Phase One: Two AP1000 reactors, pending diligence, feasibility, and permitting
Capacity: Approx. 6.6 GW (6,600 MW)
Status: Proposed; site control secured
Construction Start Target: 2028, pending federal approvals
Early Work: Site characterization, geotechnical investigations, environmental assessments, transmission interconnection planning, NRC licensing prep
Planning Considerations: Transportation, housing, environmental stewardship, emergency preparedness, water use
Peak Construction Workforce: Up to 4,500 workers per reactor
Operations Workforce: About 500 to 800 full time per plant (DOE estimate)
Modeled Jobs: Two operating AP1000 units create 1,000 direct jobs, 4,100 total including indirect and induced (modeled estimate)
Government Coordination: U.S. Department of Energy, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Commonwealth of Kentucky
Design Certification: NRC announced AP1000 renewal on October 14, 2026, incorporating Revision 20
Local Designation: Nuclear ready community effort launched unanimously July 2026; filing to the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority approved October 2026
Developer Background: Services division has performed maintenance at more than 40% of operating U.S. nuclear facilities
Key Executive: Joe Klecha, Chief Nuclear Officer; held construction and operational readiness leadership roles at Vogtle Units 3 and 4
Significance: Would be Kentucky’s first commercial nuclear power project; largest U.S. nuclear campus if fully built
TheJobWalk Thoughts
The first checks on this job probably won’t be written for concrete. Site characterization, geotechnical work, environmental studies, and transmission planning all come before a 2028 start, so engineering and consulting firms have the nearest window.
Labor could be the bigger test, especially if both phase one reactors peak together. Headcount could then approach the roughly 9,000 workers Vogtle reached, and housing is already on the planning list.
For suppliers, the standardized design is the real draw. Crews and vendors who learn the first unit should be able to carry those lessons into the next.
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