First Ever in U.S.; Nuclear Power Plant to be Re-opened

Nuclear plant cooling towersPhoto byMick TruytsonUnsplash

The Palisades Nuclear Power Plant near Grand Rapids, Michigan will be brought back online to produce power, following a conditional loan from the Department of Energy for $1.52 billion dollars. The funding was made available as part of the Inflation Reduction Act signed into law in 2022. The plant is located near South Haven, about an hour southwest of Grand Rapids.

The re-start is subject to approval by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The plant, which was over 50 years old, was closed due to concerns over it's age. The process to get the plant operational again will take about 18 months.

Once opened, the plant would be scheduled to be operational through 2051. Holtec also aims to construct two new small modular reactors (SMRs) by 2030 which will double the energy generation capacity at Palisades. That plan is also subject to regulatory approval.

The plant is expected to provide about 600 jobs to the region. It will be the first successful restart of a nuclear plant once completed. It will also reduce carbon emmissions by 450 million tons per year.

Last year, Michigan Governor Whitmer signed several bills intended to achieve 100% clean energy in Michigan by 2040. Nuclear energy is one of the clean sources recommended.

There was no Republican support for the bill.