The US Department of Energy has agreed to invest nearly $1,000,000,000 in Kentucky.

Today, Governor Andy Beshear announced the money is intended for five companies that won approval by the federal funds.

That includes Century Aluminum Company, which plans to build a green aluminum smelter at a to be determined site in Northeast Kentucky.

The smelter could bring in 6500 jobs, including 1000 permanent ones.

While the company isn't ready to break ground, Beshear said today's announcement could be the largest investment ever in eastern Kentucky.

And I want to make sure we say there's still a lot of steps that we need to take to make this a reality.

But this is the first important step.

Now, there have to be a final choice on location.

You have to get the the energy prices right.

You will need an incentive package.

But the first $500 million towards the construction of this type of facility is something worth celebrating.

Another project approved for federal funding is the land at North America Recycling, which plans on expanding its scrap metal processing business in Shelbyville.

Also, Ashland based ISP Chemicals plans to invest $70 million into a new project at its Calvert City Chemical plant.