Creating a sustainable economic future for the region.
Creating a sustainable economic future for the region.
Thank you for visiting our website and learning more about the decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) progress at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Pike County, Ohio.
SOCCo is comprised of more than 2,000 workers dedicated to the safe environmental cleanup of the Portsmouth site to prepare the land for reindustrialization.
As you click through our website, you will see that a large part of our mission is our commitment to building a strong and sustainable economy in southern Ohio through regional purchasing and economic development grants; supporting the needs of area non-profit organizations; and, the advancement of the region’s next generation through STEM education and worker training.
On behalf of all of us at SOCCo, we hope you enjoy learning more about us and look forward to continually sharing our progress here at the site.
Sincerely,
Greg Wilkett
SOCCo President and CEO
Nearly 1,500 students from 31 schools in six counties descended upon the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant to take part in the 14th annual Department of Energy’s Science Alliance. Each year, high school students take part in one of the largest hands-on science events in southern Ohio to learn more about STEM careers and potential opportunities for their future.
Hands-on activities are at the heart of Science Alliance. Students interact with a display that allows them to create land structures and then make rain fall to see how the rain flow impacts streams, lakes, and rivers.
“It is always inspiring to see the students come here and enjoy themselves and interact with all the presenters, whether it’s during a hands-on demonstration or learning about a career or educational path after high school,” said DOE Portsmouth Site Lead, Jeremy Davis. “The students seem to really appreciate the opportunities that go beyond the classroom.”
Students took advantage of the chance to meet with college representatives from The Ohio State University, Ohio University, University of Rio Grande, Morehead State University, Shawnee State University, Hocking College, Electrical Training Academy, Southern State Community College, The RecW, and Ohio Christian College. They also had a chance to explore careers with SOCCo, Centrus, MCSA, GRIT, United Steel Workers, Austin Powder, Kenworth, Community Action, Pike Soil and Water, Adena, The Ohio State Highway Patrol, and General Electric.
In addition to thinking about their future, students had fun with various interactive stations as well as fun-filled competitions to learn more about the plant history and the current clean-up mission to prepare for future development.
Schools who are interested in Science Alliance can email Donnie Locke, Communications Manager at SOCCo at donnie.locke@ports.pppo.gov or call 740.897.3899 to get more information.
Waverly students cheer on their classmate during Smackdown Science. Students from Pike, Scioto, Ross, Jackson, Adams, and Greenup counties compete for the highest score to earn bragging rights, and a trophy, each day.
Marc Hill’s energetic lesson on the site’s past is a student favorite year after year.
Our mission is to safely decontaminate and decommission the Portsmouth Site while partnering with the community to create a sustainable economic future for the region.