The US Palisades NPP in Covert Township, Michigan, officially transitioned from decommissioning to operational status under the oversight of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). This milestone follows the agency’s July 24 approval of Holtec’s licensing package to reauthorise power operations, making Palisades the first nuclear plant in US history to move from decommissioning back to operations.
The single-unit 800 MWe pressurised water reactor on the shores of Lake Michigan began commercial operation in 1971. In 2016 operator Entergy announced plans to close the plant. In 2021 NRC approved transfer of the licence from Entergy to Holtec in preparation for its decommissioning. The reactor was removed from service by Entergy in May 2022, and defueled, and its sale to Holtec completed in June 2022. However, Holtec then announced that it was applying for federal funding to allow restart of the plant.
Following the transition, Palisades is now authorised to receive nuclear fuel and restart the plant once allowable conditions are met within the approved Technical Specifications. The plant’s Emergency Plan is fully active, supported by a trained and engaged Emergency Response Organisation.
Before the plant officially resumes power operations, extensive ongoing project work will be completed. Recent progress includes the completion of Steam Generator primary side repairs via tube sleeving and plugging, with crews now advancing through deep cleaning of the Steam Generators’ secondary systems to prepare the equipment for long-term safe and reliable operation.
Currently underway is the reassembly of the main generator and turbine, including the reinstallation of our 183-tonne generator rotor after extensive rotor and stator inspections. This highly complex work required careful preparation, rigorous controls, and strict foreign material exclusion – all reflecting the strength, skill, and attention to detail of the Palisades team. Additional milestones include Emergency Diesel Generator maintenance and test runs and the installation of a refurbished Primary Coolant Pump motor.
When Palisades returns to service, it will produce more than 800 MWe megawatts of baseload electricity – enough to power over 800,000 homes and businesses. Palisades is currently supported by more than 600 full-time nuclear professionals and over 1,000 skilled contractors, vendors, and suppliers, with a fully staffed team of licensed Operators already in place.
The restart of Palisades will also pave the way for the construction and commissioning of Holtec’s first-of-its-kind SMR-300 small modular reactors (SMRs) at the site by the beginning of the next decade. To avoid disruption of ongoing restart work, on-site SMR activity to date has been limited to site preparation and geotechnical work at the site where the twin 300 MWe units will be built. The SMRs will be delivered in partnership with Hyundai Engineering & Construction.
Earlier in August, US Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright released of the fifth loan disbursement to Holtec to help fund the restart of the Palisades. This represents $83,234,156 of the up to $1.52bn loan guarantee to Holtec. This was the fifth disbursement of funds from the Loan Programs Office (LPO) since September 2024. To date, $335,112,194 of DOE-guaranteed loan funds have been disbursed to Holtec for Palisades.
