Lewis County nuclear proposal targets up to six reactors

The Nuclear Company’s proposed Prosperity One campus in Lewis County could include up to six Westinghouse AP1000 reactors, with approximately 6.6 gigawatts of generating capacity. The company announced the proposal on October 21, 2026, describing a site along the Ohio River. It is a proposal, not an approved or operating power plant.

That proposed capacity is close to the scale of a major Kentucky utility’s entire power-plant fleet. WUKY, republishing Kentucky Lantern reporting, says the state’s largest electric utility has more than 7.2 gigawatts of generating capacity. Dividing 6.6 by the 7.2-gigawatt benchmark gives about 92%; because the fleet exceeds 7.2 gigawatts, the proposal would be less than 92% of its actual capacity. These figures describe generating capacity, not electricity produced. In other words, the comparison gives a sense of the proposed facility’s scale, not a forecast of how much electricity it would deliver.

Planning aims toward 2028 i

The company says early work would include site characterization, geotechnical investigations, environmental assessments, transmission planning and preparation for federal nuclear licensing. It intends to pursue federal approvals with the objective of beginning construction in 2028. That is a company-stated goal, not a confirmed schedule; the proposal does not establish that approvals have been granted or construction has begun.

Sam Howard is identified by the company as a site owner and project partner. WUKY reports that Howard is CEO of Vanceburg-based Trace Creek Construction. The Lewis County Herald reports that Carrs Land LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trace Creek group, acquired the original 738-acre tract, and that the development team holds additional acreage outright or under options.

Local reporting has also described concerns about the pace of development, nuclear safety, public notice and the proposed site’s proximity to schools. Those are reported community concerns, not findings about the project’s impacts. For residents asking whether the announcement means construction is imminent, it does not: the stated next steps are planning activities and pursuing federal approvals.