The Palisades power plant in Covert Township, Michigan, on Aug. 25 became the first decommissioned U.S. nuclear plant to officially transition to “operations” status, owner Holtec International said in a statement.
The plant is not yet generating electricity; the company said the plant still requires extensive work, including reassembling the main generator and turbine.
Nevertheless, Holtec celebrated the “milestone” in its efforts to restart the plant, which it said will produce more than 800 MW. The plant’s new status follows its receipt of key approvals by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission last month.
“With this transition, Palisades is now authorized to receive nuclear fuel and restart the plant once allowable conditions are met,” the company said. “Beyond strengthening Michigan’s energy security, this achievement signals a historic first for the nuclear industry and reinforces the essential role of nuclear power in America’s energy future.”
Palisades began operations in 1971 and was decommissioned by Entergy in 2022. Soon after, Holtec acquired it and announced in 2023 its intention to pursue restarting it.
Holtec did not give a timeline for completion. It added that the plant’s emergency plan is in place, positioning Palisades “squarely in the final phase of restart preparations, as inspections, testing, and maintenance continue under rigorous independent federal oversight.”
The company is also planning to build a new small modular reactor on the same site “by the beginning of the next decade.”
Beyond Nuclear, a nonprofit that opposes the plant’s revival, issued a statement condemning its progress toward restarting.
“Holtec’s Palisades zombie reactor restart scheme is not only unprecedented, but also unneeded, insanely expensive for taxpayers and ratepayers, and very risky for health, safety, security, and the environment,” Kevin Kamps, the group’s radioactive waste specialist, said in a statement. “Because so much is at stake, we will continue to resist Holtec’s Palisades restart.”
