An employee of USEC is speaking out. USEC’s board of directors announced Friday they have voted to continue the company’s investment in the American Centrifuge Plant (ACP) for October, but at a reduced spending rate as the company continues working with the U.S. Department of Energy to secure a $2 billion loan guarantee.

Shei Anderson of Portsmouth has been working for USEC for four years.

“The mood out here right now is very somber and we’re discouraged,” Anderson said.

She said Friday’s announcement came as no surprise to her or her co-workers.

“You just kind of wonder what their thoughts are at DOE. We’ve been told that our technology is viable. We’ve had machines running and the technical issues have been worked out,” Anderson said. “Where’s our chance? We want to be able to prove this technology works. Where is the faith in the workers here in Piketon? Everyone here is skilled and knowledgeable worker. We all want to see this plant succeed. We have the utmost faith in what we do and in this project. America needs this and southern Ohio needs this.”

Anderson said her and other employees are left with more questions than when it comes to the fate of their job and the fate for the ACP.

“As members of this community we want to stay here. We want to raise our kids here, we don’t want to leave. We think southern Ohio is a good place to be. We are very hopeful this project will succeed,” Anderson said.

“We were told our WARN notices would come out in the next month. They’ve been exiting some of the augmented staff today. They’ve been laid off. This is definitely not a good situation for anyone to be in. When you see those people leaving it does not make you feel to warm and fuzzy,” Anderson said. “A lot of people have been out here for 20 or 30 years, that have experience with this project dating back to the ’80s. There is a lot of people who have invested time, energy and their hearts into this place. To see it not succeed again is just heart wrenching.”

WAYNE ALLEN may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 208, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.