Home Care In Oak Ridge, TN

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Tennessee’s governor announced a major economic and community investment in East Tennessee on Friday morning.

Governor Bill Lee addressed the media at the K-25 History Center in Oak Ridge and formally announced that LIS Technologies will be expanding into Roane County, Tennessee.

The facility is expected to cost LIS an estimated $1.38 billion and create more than 200 jobs in Oak Ridge. It will be located on the “historic K-25 uranium enrichment site.”

“Tennessee is leading the nation in advancing American energy independence, which is why innovative companies like LIS Technologies are choosing to do business here,” explained Gov. Bill Lee. “By creating the Nuclear Energy Fund, we have uniquely positioned our state at the forefront of cutting-edge research and development, and I look forward to the opportunity this expansion will create for Tennesseans.”

LIS is the seventh company to expand into Tennessee, utilizing the Nuclear Energy Fund, which included allotted funds approved by the General Assembly to encourage the rebirth of nuclear energy in the state.

LIS was founded in 2023 and stands for Laser Isotope Separation, which uses infrared lasers to selectively excite the molecules of desired isotopes to separate them from other isotopes.

“L.I.S.T has a huge range of applications, including being the only USA-origin (and patented) laser uranium enrichment company, and several major advantages over traditional methods such as gas diffusion, centrifuges, and prior art laser enrichment,” according to the announcement. “The LIST proprietary laser-based process is more energy-efficient and has the potential to be deployed with highly competitive capital and operational costs.”

The company has been developing its laser enrichment research at Oak Ridge’s recently renovated K-1330 building in recent years.

Friday’s announcement was made at the K-25 History Center, which is a museum featuring artifacts and interactive displays about the Manhattan Project.

OAK RIDGE — A $1.3 billion investment from Laser Isotope Separation Technologies will bring 203 new jobs to Oak Ridge, according to an announcement made Friday. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Deputy Gov. and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter and LIS Technologies were on hand to share more about the announcement in Roane County. “This investment reflects the continued momentum of Tennessee’s nuclear sector and builds on a strong year for nuclear energy in our state,” McWhorter said in the release. “LIS Technologies’ nearly $1.4 billion investment is a major win for Tennessee, and we believe Oak Ridge is uniquely positioned to support this project’s success.”The facility, formerly named Duct Island, will be the home of the new development on the historic K-25 uranium enrichment site. Once completed, the facility is expected to become the first U.S.-origin commercial laser uranium enrichment plan in the world — supporting U.S. utilities, next-generation reactor developers and national defense requirements. This announcement marks the third largest nuclear-related investment since the creation of TNECD’s Nuclear Energy Fund in 2023. “Selecting Oak Ridge is both a strategic and symbolic decision for LIS Technologies. This community represents the foundation of America’s enrichment capability and the future of its clean energy and national security mission,” Jay Yu, executive chairman and CEO of LIS Technologies, said in the release. “Our laser enrichment technology fundamentally changes the economics of enrichment, enabling faster deployment, lower capital intensity and long-term cost advantages.”LIS Technologies was selected as one of six domestic companies to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Low-Enriched Uranium Enrichment Acquisition Program in 2024. According to the release, this initiative allocates up to $3.4 billion in funding with contracts anticipated to last up to 10 years. The company is headquartered in Oak Ridge in the recently renovated K-1330 building and is the seventh company to locate in Tennessee for its commercial operations using the Nuclear Energy Fund.

Gov. Lee recommended the $50 million fund in the 2023-2024 budget, which was later approved by the Tennessee General Assembly. Since then, the total fund amount has been increased to $70 million. Other projects announced using the Nuclear Energy Fund include:

Excluding Friday’s announcement, more than $40.3 million has already been allocated through the fund to 12 different projects as of Jan. 16. More than 1,900 new jobs are expected to come from the projects, according to the fund’s database.

Tennessee leaders said the investment will not only bring economic development but also secure more energy independence for the United States.

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — Laser Isotope Separation Technologies plans to invest nearly $1.4 billion in a new uranium enrichment facility in Oak Ridge. It's a project expected to create more than 200 jobs and further cement East Tennessee’s role in the nation’s nuclear energy sector.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and state economic development leaders announced the investment in Oak Ridge Friday, noting the facility is planned for the former K-25 uranium enrichment site, historically known as Duct Island, in Roane County.

Leaders say the facility will be the first of its kind: a commercial laser uranium enrichment plant developed by a U.S. company. Company officials say the project will support domestic utilities, next-generation nuclear reactor developers, and national defense needs while helping rebuild the nation’s nuclear fuel supply chain.

State officials said the investment marks the third-largest nuclear-related project announced since the creation of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s Nuclear Energy Fund.

“Tennessee is leading the nation in advancing American energy independence, which is why innovative companies like LIS Technologies are choosing to do business here,” Lee said. “The city is like no other for the new nuclear renaissance, and I think that's why you see companies coming here."

The site was originally used during World War II as part of the Manhattan Project to produce uranium for the atomic bomb. Gov. Bill Lee said the location highlights the region’s long-standing role in the nation’s nuclear history and its future in advanced energy technology.

“The history of this whole region has been important,” Lee said. The city is like no other for the new nuclear renaissance ... and I think that's why you see companies coming here in mass."

He added that it is fitting for a site once used for early nuclear technology to now support next-generation nuclear development through laser enrichment.

Founded in 2023, LIS Technologies is headquartered in Oak Ridge, where its laser enrichment research and development operations are based in the renovated K-1330 building. The company is the seventh to locate commercial nuclear operations in Tennessee using support from the Nuclear Energy Fund.

The fund was created with $50 million approved by the General Assembly in the 2023–2024 state budget. Lawmakers later approved an additional $10 million in both the 2024 and 2025 budgets, bringing the total to $70 million.

The announcement also follows recent federal support for the company. In 2024, LIS Technologies was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy as one of six companies to participate in its Low-Enriched Uranium Enrichment Acquisition Program, which could provide up to $3.4 billion in funding through contracts lasting as long as 10 years.

“This investment reflects the continued momentum of Tennessee’s nuclear sector,” said Deputy Gov. and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter.

That investment, U.S. Representative Chuck Fleishmann (R-Oak Ridge) said, is a priority for him.

"America needs energy dominance. America needs nuclear dominance," he said. "And the great state of Tennessee will deliver that."

The project is expected to include a smaller facility for technology testing and a larger commercial enrichment operation.

Local leaders said the investment will have long-term economic and strategic impacts for the region.

The facility is expected to be completed by 2033.

Oak Ridge, Tennessee--(Newsfile Corp. - January 16, 2026) - LIS Technologies Inc. ("LIST" or "the Company"), a proprietary developer of advanced laser technology and the only USA-origin and patented laser uranium enrichment company, alongside Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Deputy Gov. and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter, today announced LIST will create 203 jobs and invest $1.38 billion in its future flagship commercial scale laser-based uranium enrichment facility on the historic footprint of the K-25 Uranium Enrichment Site in Oak Ridge. This will be the third largest nuclear-related investment since the creation of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development's Nuclear Energy Fund.

Following the renaming of the 206-acre Duct Island to LIST Island and its redevelopment to house the Company's commercial laser-based uranium enrichment headquarters, Oak Ridge, TN is expected to become the site of the world's first US-origin commercial laser uranium enrichment facility, supporting U.S. utilities, next-generation reactor developers, and national defense requirements while helping to reestablish a resilient domestic nuclear fuel supply chain.

Figure 1 - LIS Technologies Inc. Commercial Laser-based Uranium Enrichment Facility Rendering on Newly Acquired $8 Million Duct Island, Now Rebranded as "LIST Island"

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/12104/280605_71e2b80614f7bba2_002full.jpg

"Selecting Oak Ridge is both a strategic and symbolic decision for LIS Technologies," said Jay Yu, Executive Chairman and CEO of LIS Technologies. "This community represents the foundation of America's enrichment capability and the future of its clean energy and national security mission. Our laser enrichment technology fundamentally changes the economics of enrichment, enabling faster deployment, lower capital intensity, and long-term cost advantages. With our NRC licensing process underway, we are moving deliberately toward construction readiness and positioning the United States to lead the world in commercial laser enrichment."

"Choosing this community for our commercial operations is both strategically and personally meaningful," said Dr. Jeff Eerkens, Inventor and Co-Founder of LIS Technologies. "As a child, my life was saved during World War II while I was held in a Japanese internment camp in Indonesia. Oak Ridge's K-25 facility helped produce the enriched uranium that brought the war to an end. Returning to Oak Ridge decades later with a peaceful, commercial laser enrichment technology is a powerful full-circle moment."

Subject to licensing, permitting, and final investment decisions, the company intends to break ground and begin site preparation and civil construction in 2026. LIST is targeting initial commercial operations before 2030, positioning its laser enrichment facility to meet accelerating demand for domestically sourced uranium enrichment.

Founded in 2023, with its office and laser enrichment research and development headquartered in Oak Ridge in the recently renovated K-1330 building, LIS Technologies is the eighth company to locate in Tennessee for its commercial operations utilizing the Nuclear Energy Fund. The $50 million fund was in Gov. Lee's recommended 2023-2024 budget and approved by the Tennessee General Assembly. An additional $10 million was allocated and approved in the state's budget during both the 2024 and 2025 legislative sessions, bringing the fund's total to $70 million since its inception.

"Tennessee continues to lead the nation in advancing American energy independence, which is why innovative companies like LIS Technologies recognize our efforts through projects like this," said Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. "By creating the Nuclear Energy Fund, we have uniquely positioned our state at the forefront of cutting-edge R&D, and I look forward to the positive impact this project will have for Tennesseans across our state."

Figure 2 - LIS Technology Inc., the only U.S.-origin and patented technology for laser uranium enrichment, Meets with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/12104/280605_71e2b80614f7bba2_003full.jpg

"This investment reflects the continued momentum of Tennessee's nuclear sector and builds on a strong year for nuclear energy in our state," said Deputy Governor and TNECD Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter. "LIS Technologies' nearly $1.4 billion investment is a major win for Tennessee's, and Oak Ridge is uniquely positioned to support this project's success. I am grateful to the leadership of LIS Technologies and to our partners in Oak Ridge for helping bring today's announcement to fruition."

"This investment represents more than the construction of a single facility," said Christo Liebenberg, President and Co-Founder of LIS Technologies. "It reflects a commitment to restoring a critical domestic capability, advancing peaceful nuclear technologies, and strengthening the United States' competitiveness in an evolving global energy landscape. As global demand for nuclear fuel grows and existing supply tightens, the opportunity, and responsibility, to act is clear. This project is a meaningful step toward reestablishing U.S. enrichment capacity and rebuilding the nuclear fuel cycle."

About LIS Technologies Inc.

LIS Technologies Inc. (LIST) is a USA based, proprietary developer of a patented advanced laser technology, making use of infrared lasers to selectively excite the molecules of desired isotopes to separate them from other isotopes. The Laser Isotope Separation Technology (L.I.S.T) has a huge range of applications, including being the only USA-origin (and patented) laser uranium enrichment company, and several major advantages over traditional methods such as gas diffusion, centrifuges, and prior art laser enrichment. The LIST proprietary laser-based process is more energy-efficient and has the potential to be deployed with highly competitive capital and operational costs. L.I.S.T is optimized for LEU (Low Enriched Uranium) for existing civilian nuclear power plants, High-Assay LEU (HALEU) for the next generation of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and Microreactors, the production of stable isotopes for medical and scientific research, and applications in quantum computing manufacturing for semiconductor technologies. The Company employs a world class nuclear technical team working alongside leading nuclear entrepreneurs and industry professionals, possessing strong relationships with government and private nuclear industries.

In Dec 2024, LIS Technologies Inc. was selected as one of six domestic companies to participate in the Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) Enrichment Acquisition Program. This initiative allocates up to $3.4 billion overall, with contracts lasting for up to 10 years. Each awardee is slated to receive a minimum contract of $2 million.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "will", "should", "could", "would" or "may" and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management's current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For LIS Technologies Inc., particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following which are, and will be, exacerbated by any worsening of global business and economic environment: (i) risks related to the development of new or advanced technology, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, development of competitive technology, loss of key individuals and uncertainty of success of patent filing, (ii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations and (iii) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to commercially deploy a competitive laser enrichment technology, (iv) risks related to the impact of government regulation and policies including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and other risks and uncertainties discussed in this and our other filings with the SEC. Only after successful completion of our Phase 2 Pilot Plant demonstration will LIS Technologies be able to make realistic economic predictions for a Commercial Facility. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

Helps provide funds for Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge

Updated to change when bands will start performing and to add fireworks.

The New Year's Eve Countdown event returns to A.K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 7 p.m.

This will be the second New Year's Eve Countdown sponsored by Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge. The clinic and its supporters started the event in 2023. Last year's countdown was canceled hours before the event was to begin because of predicted high winds.

This 2025 event is open to all ages and is free, unless you purchase food from the food trucks or drinks at the beer and wine garden. It will feature live entertainment from two bands, J Storm and Fairview Union, according to a clinic news release. Bring chairs to sit and enjoy the music at the park. The bands get started at 8:45 p.m., but a DJ begins playing music at 8 p.m.

The fun gets underway at 7 p.m. and will end sometime after the drop of the Atomic Ball at midnight. There will also be fireworks.

If you can't make it to the event, it will be livestreamed starting at 6 p.m. on the clinic's Facebook page and on BBB, Channel 12.

The countdown event brings together the community and the clinic's supporters and partners to celebrate the impact of their work while raising awareness and support for the nonprofit's mission to provide free, compassionate medical care to low-income and uninsured residents of Anderson, Roane, and Morgan counties. Free Medical Clinic provides clinics in Oak Ridge, Rockwood and a mobile clinic - open 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday - at various locations in the three counties. The schedule is on the clinic's website at fmcor.org.

“As we close out the year, this event is about hope, health, and community,” Clinic Executive Director Billy Edmonds said in the release. “Every connection made helps ensure our neighbors have access to the care they need, regardless of their ability to pay.”

The clinic provides primary care, chronic disease management, preventive services, and referrals. It's staffed by volunteer physicians, nurses and other medical professionals. It serves uninsured adults.

Proceeds from the New Year’s Eve event will directly support the clinic’s operations, helping offset rising healthcare costs and ensuring continued access to services for patients who might otherwise go without care. You can also make donations to the clinic's work at the event on its website.

What's an Atomic Ball?

Oak Ridge is sometimes called the Atomic City because of its scientific past, present and future so what better symbol to be "dropped" as 2025 ends and New Year 2926 begins?

A "ball" shaped like an atom was designed and built by instructors and students at Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Harriman.

In a 2023 news story, Andew Aydelott, TCAT Harriman machine tech tool instructor, was quoted as saying, “There are many cities that have ball drops and most of them look alike, but this one will be a standout for the city of Oak Ridge because it is 6 feet in diameter and at the center of the ball is the nucleus of the atom with over 2,000 lights to help us ring in the new year."

The Oak Ridger's News Editor Donna Smith covers Oak Ridge area news. Email her at [email protected].

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