The Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan, which had been in the decommissioning phase, is now set to return to action following an authorization to transition the plant back to an operating license by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). FOX 17 reported that this decision allows the plant to start preparing to load fuel and bring reactor operators back on shift.
Holtec International, the plant's owner, announced its intention to reopen the plant using small modular reactors after its closure in May 2022. Despite the procedure still needing to be followed before a restart can be finalized, this NRC approval is considered a significant step forward. According to the NRC, as detailed by WOOD TV, while Holtec can begin to load fuel into the plant, several licensing actions remain under review, and additional requirements must be satisfied.
Kelly Trice, President of Holtec International, saw the transition as a proud achievement, "a proud and historic moment for our team, for Michigan, and for the United States," he told WOODTV. The plant is expected to generate over 800 megawatts of power upon reopening, enough to supply more than 800,000 households.
Palisades represents not just a local or state concern, but a national interest. Holtec's project has reportedly received a significant federal loan from the U.S. Department of Energy, bolstering its financial capability to bring the plant back online. Meanwhile, some residents have expressed safety concerns. Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear strongly criticized the relaunch, as he described it to WOOD TV, "The zombie reactor restart scheme is unneeded, insanely expensive for the public, and extremely high risk for health, safety, security, and the environment."
