Area Development
Nuclear and alternative energy company Areva will shift its nuclear fuel-making operations from Lynchburg, Virginia to Richland, Washington, according to the Washington governor's office. The Tri-City Herald of Kennewick, Washington, reports that the move will add 50 new jobs at the Washington facility, which will first be offered to the 150 employees in Virginia who will be affected by the move. France-headquartered Areva plans to make about $4 million in capital improvements at the Richland site, which has been producing fuel assemblies for 40 years. The company announced last year that it will build a $2 billion uranium enrichment plant in Idaho that will produce raw material for the Richland plant to turn into fuel assemblies for nuclear reactors.