Exploring the Opportunity.
Starting the Conversation.
What could the growth of nuclear energy mean for Eastern Kentucky?
That is a question worth exploring — and it begins with information, conversation, and community engagement.
SOAR has partnered with Envoy Public Labs to provide Eastern Kentucky communities with
intensive support and technical assistance as they explore Kentucky’s Nuclear-Ready Community designation.
SOAR is helping position Eastern Kentucky for growth in nuclear energy — connecting local talent with careers, supporting industry partnerships, and preparing communities like yours for future investment.
What Is a Nuclear-Ready Community?
The Nuclear-Ready Community designation was established by the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority (KNEDA) to recognize communities that have demonstrated preparedness and local support for nuclear energy-related economic development. Any Kentucky county, working in coordination with its cities, may voluntarily pursue the designation.
Kentucky currently provides two pathways:
- Nuclear Energy | For communities interested in being considered for nuclear power generation projects.
- Nuclear Supply Chain | For communities interested in nuclear-related economic development that does not include power generation.
- Communities may also explore both designations.
Being Nuclear Ready does not mean a nuclear facility is coming.
It means a community is informed, prepared, and ready to be considered for future nuclear investment.
What It Is, and What It Isn’t
Nuclear Ready Communities is about exploration, education, and local decision-making.
It is an opportunity to:
- Learn about advanced nuclear technologies and the broader nuclear supply chain.
- Understand potential economic development, workforce, infrastructure, and community implications.
- Bring residents, elected officials, utilities, economic development leaders, and other stakeholders into the conversation.
- Evaluate whether local sites could be appropriate for nuclear-related development.
- Give communities the information they need to determine whether pursuing a designation makes sense.
It is not a commitment to build a nuclear power plant, approval of a specific nuclear project, or a decision made for a community by SOAR, Envoy Public Labs, or the Commonwealth.
The community decides whether and how it wants to move forward.
What Does the Process Look Like?
The process begins with education and conversation.
Communities pursuing the designation must hold at least two public educational meetings, open to all residents. These meetings provide information about advanced nuclear technologies, the nuclear ecosystem and supply chain, potential community benefits, and what the Nuclear-Ready Community designation actually means.
Communities pursuing applicable nuclear development opportunities must demonstrate that one or more sites have been recognized by the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development as suitable for nuclear energy-related projects.
The Cabinet works with communities and other state and federal partners to evaluate potential sites against established criteria.
After education and exploration, the community determines whether it wants to move forward.
Kentucky’s designation process requires formal local support through either resolutions adopted by the county government and all cities within the county, or approval through a countywide ballot initiative.
A community must submit a Notice of Intent to the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority (KNEDA) at least 90 days before submitting its application.
The final application includes documentation showing that the community has satisfied the designation requirements, along with a narrative describing its readiness and commitment. KNEDA reviews the application, and its Advisory Board makes the determination on awarding the designation.
You Don’t Have to Navigate This Alone
For communities interested in learning more, SOAR and Envoy Public Labs are available to help. Through this partnership, communities can receive intensive support and technical assistance as they explore the opportunity, engage local stakeholders, understand the designation requirements, and navigate the steps involved.
The first step isn’t making a decision. It’s starting a conversation.
Is Your Community Ready to Explore?
Whether your community is interested in nuclear energy generation, opportunities within the nuclear supply chain, or simply wants to better understand what nuclear development could mean for its future, we’re ready to start the conversation.