North American Stainless (Ghent)
Large load · 6870 HIGHWAY 42 EAST, Ghent, KY
North American Stainless runs the largest fully integrated stainless steel mill in the United States on 1,600 acres at Ghent, Kentucky, in Carroll County on the Ohio River. All of its production lines are on site: the electric melt shop, casting, hot and cold rolling and finishing for flat and long stainless products. Kentucky Utilities serves the mill at 138 kV under a special contract whose capacity rises to 116,400 kVA in June 2026 for the latest expansion, and NAS also buys a share of a new solar plant's output through KU.
Overview
KU delivers power at a nominal 138,000 volts, metered and billed as transmission service under the RTS rate schedule. The contracted capacity was 100,000 kVA in 2014 and 113,000 kVA in 2017, when a 13,000 kVA expansion qualified for KU's Economic Development Rider. A new contract signed in January 2025 raises it in steps from 97,000 kVA to 116,400 kVA by June 2026 to serve a 19,400 kVA expansion, again with a ten-year EDR contract that discounts demand charges in the first five years. These are kVA contract capacities; NAS has not published a MW demand. The renewable agreement shows NAS's rates follow KU's Fluctuating Load Service tariff, with separate peak, intermediate and base demand periods.
Profile
- Solar supply through KU
- In 2021 LG&E and KU filed renewable power agreements with five large customers for a 125 MW solar facility to be built in western Kentucky; NAS takes 36% of its output. KU buys the energy under a 20-year power purchase agreement and passes it to NAS as non-firm, as-available energy on top of its existing service contract.
- The $244 million expansion
- In January 2023 NAS announced its 13th expansion since 1990: a new cold rolling mill, roll grinders, upgraded annealing and pickling lines, a new temper mill and a larger melt shop building with a 400-metric-ton crane. The project adds 200,000 tons a year of capacity, about 20%, and 70 jobs. The 19,400 kVA step-up in KU contract capacity through mid-2026 comes with an EDR contract tied to the same $244 million investment and 70 jobs.
Facility
- Activity
- Integrated stainless steel production: electric melt shop, hot and cold rolling, flat and long stainless products
- Industry
- Manufacturing
- Site type
- Facility
- Operating status
- Operating
Related records
Timeline
- Sep 19, 2014
- KU special contract sets 100,000 kVA contract capacity at 138 kV.
psc.ky.gov
- Jul 8, 2017
- Contract capacity raised to 113,000 kVA with a 13,000 kVA EDR expansion.
psc.ky.gov
- Oct 29, 2021
- KU files a renewable power agreement giving NAS 36% of a 125 MW solar facility.
New 125-megawatt solar facility planned for Kentucky | LG&E and KU
- Jan 26, 2023
- NAS announces a $244 million expansion adding 200,000 tons a year.
North American Stainless Creating 70 Full-Time Jobs With $244 Million Expansion in Carroll County | Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
- Feb 28, 2025
- New KU contract and EDR take effect, stepping capacity to 116,400 kVA by June 2026.
psc.ky.gov