PIKETON, Ohio — The Energy Department announced plans Friday to build an advanced- technology pilot project for uranium enrichment at a privately run plant that was to shut down production.

        Energy Secretary Bill Richardson said the plan was a way of protecting U.S. energy supplies and national security.

        It also would prevent up to 1,900 layoffs from well-paying jobs in Ohio, an election battleground state.

        “I'm here to say you have job security and the nation will continue to have energy security,” Mr. Richardson said to the applause of several hundred workers at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. “You were there for us when we won the Cold War; now we're going to pay you back.”

        The Clinton administration plan calls for keeping the southern Ohio plant in a “standby” mode and eventually employing centrifuge technology there.

        Gas centrifuge once was the government's top choice for replacing the 1940s-era gaseous diffusion process used at Piketon and a companion plant in Paducah, Ky.

        The new technology uses only a fraction of the energy to enrich uranium for nuclear reactor fuel and will allow Piketon and Paducah to compete in the energy market, Mr. Richardson said.

        About 1,400 of the Piketon plant's 1,900 workers were told four months ago they would be laid off within a year as production ended. The rest of the jobs were to be phased out by 2006.

Newport struggles as chill moves in
Powerful water stream cut gas main 'like a drill'
Schools promote online safety
Ads for 'hell house' pulled
Extra beds barred
RAMSEY: School nutrition
Tavern in Butler Co. sold pot, crystal meth, cops say
Woman indicted in shooting death
Chabot defends fund vote
Hamilton: We can beat job loss
Almanac hints at cold snap
Antiques show offers treasures
Boy admitted to hospital after fight
Boy convicted of injuring driver
Brother is charged with slaying
Cab driver's killer sentenced to prison
County bond rating goes up
County official fears fires
DNA links baby, slain woman
Driver gets probation for causing man's death
Fall fun under way
FBI to probe behavior on flight
Firm's former VP may be part of scheme
Gallatin Steel fined $925,000
Hinton directs focus to others
Hooters asks award be cut
HOWARD: Neighborhoods
Hundreds of nuclear jobs at Piketon spared
Ky. pair petition for Justin
McNUTT: Writer's reward
No sports without reports
Robber, 19, gets 7-year sentence
Second patient dies after treatment at center
Study explains radiation victims' cancer
Suspect says uncle threatened to kill him
Toddler recovering from fall
Walkers await new path
Tristate A.M. Report