Feds deny loan guarantee for Ohio uranium plant

CINCINNATI (AP) — Federal officials say they won’t guarantee a loan for an energy company that had been developing a uranium enrichment plant project in southern Ohio, but they are promising to create up to 1,000 jobs for cleanup at the site.

Energy Department officials said today the department asked USEC Inc. Monday night to withdraw its loan application so it could be resubmitted later.

DOE officials say the American Centrifuge project in Piketon does not currently meet statutory and regulatory requirements.

USEC Inc. CEO John Welch says the Bethesda, Md.-based company was shocked and disappointed.

The government says it will invest $150 million to $200 million per year over the next four years to boost cleanup of cold-war era contamination at the site.