Highlights

• General Matter is a U.S. uranium enrichment startup.
• The company will invest $1.5 billion to develop a commercial facility at the historic Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Kentucky.
• The project aims to produce low enriched uranium (LEU) and high-assay low enriched uranium (HALEU) for advanced nuclear reactors.
• The facility will support industries from manufacturing to AI.
• General Matter is backed by Founders Fund.
• The company is led by ex-SpaceX engineer Scott Nolan.
• The goal is to reestablish U.S. leadership in nuclear fuel production.
• Operations are targeted to begin by 2030.

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General Matter (opens in a new tab), a privately funded U.S. company specializing in uranium enrichment technology, announced plans to invest $1.5 billion to develop a commercial uranium enrichment facility at the former Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in McCracken County, Kentucky (opens in a new tab). The project—touted as the largest economic development investment in Western Kentucky history—aims to produce fuel for next-generation nuclear reactors, supporting industries from manufacturing to artificial intelligence. Suppose all necessary permits, licenses, and contracts are secured. In that case, the facility is expected to create 140 high-paying permanent jobs and a significant number of construction jobs, with uranium enrichment operations targeted to begin by 2030.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, local officials, and General Matter leadership framed the project as both an economic catalyst and a milestone in America’s energy independence strategy. CEO Scott Nolan highlighted the historical significance of returning to a site central to the nation’s original enrichment efforts, thanking state, local, and Department of Energy partners for enabling the move. Local leaders emphasized the decades-long economic ripple effects, from lucrative construction and operational jobs to the community’s elevated status as a hub for nuclear fuel production.

The Site

The Paducah facility will serve as a key supplier of low-enriched uranium (LEU) and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), both critical for advanced reactor designs. The project has deep symbolic and economic ties for the community—many families have generational connections to the DOE site. Economic development officials see it as a transformative moment, merging Paducah’s nuclear legacy with its future role in clean, safe nuclear energy production.

The Company

General Matter is a U.S.-based uranium enrichment startup founded in early 2024 and publicly launched in April 2025. The company was co-founded by Scott Nolan—a former SpaceX engineer and partner at Founders Fund—and Lee Robinson, who formerly led energy investments for the Defense Department’s Defense Innovation Unit. (opens in a new tab)

Funding & Backers

Backed by venture capital firm Founders Fund, General Matter raised $50 million in a funding round led by the firm. Peter Thiel, Founders Fund co‑founder, joined the company’s board as part of this investment.

Mission & Technology Focus

The company's mission is to reestablish U.S. leadership in nuclear fuel production by supplying both low-enriched uranium (LEU) and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU)—critical for advanced reactors like SMRs and data-center-backed nuclear power solutions. While the specific enrichment technology remains undisclosed, General Matter aims to deliver revolutionary, cost-efficient, scalable solutions to fill a commercial gap in the domestic nuclear fuel cycle.

Partnerships, Strategy & Timeline

The company has secured a multi-decade lease (100 acres) at the historic Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant through a deal with the U.S. Department of Energy. The lease includes access to 7,600 cylinders of uranium hexafluoride (UF₆) for enrichment and fast-tracked licensing support. Construction at the Paducah site is expected to begin in 2026, with enrichment operations slated to start by the end of the decade.

Company Summary

Category	Details
Founded	Early 2024 (public launch April 2025)
Founders	Scott Nolan (ex-SpaceX, Founders Fund), Lee Robinson
Funding	$50 million; backed by Founders Fund; Peter Thiel on board
Mission	Restore U.S. nuclear fuel capacity (LEU & HALEU)
Technology	Proprietary, scalable enrichment technology (not publicly detailed)
Partners & Site	DOE lease of Paducah site; supply of UF₆ cylinders
Timeline	Construction from 2026; operations by late 2020s