Holtec International still awaits official approval from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission to re-open Palisades Nuclear Power Plant. In the meantime, local elected officials have reiterated their support for the project.
Holtec is seeking regulatory approval to restart power operations at Palisades after the plant closed for decommissioning in May 2022. A federal loan of $1.52 billion was approved for the project in 2024, but the NRC has yet to officially approve the restart.
During a meeting June 12, the Allegan County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution to “reaffirm support” for the re-opening of Palisades. The board passed a similar resolution in January 2023.
The resolution includes several points Holtec has made regarding the restart, including the benefits of job creation, grid stability and reliability, and clean energy.
According to the NRC, approval is necessary to restore the plant’s license for operational status, but is also needed before Holtec can ready plant components or make any needed upgrades or repairs.
Holtec has previously requested the NRC make a determination this summer, in hopes of resuming power operations in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Most recently, Holtec announced the NRC issued a Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Palisades. The ruling found “the project poses no significant environmental risk,” Holtec wrote in an update.
Holtec also said an Initial Licensed Operator Class is on-track for NRC examination in June, which will add 26 federally licensed operators to the site. A separate class is underway and scheduled for testing in early 2026.
In late May, Palisades received full accreditation for its maintenance and technical training program, completing the “complement of accreditations” required for operation.
Two emergency preparedness exercises have been completed at Palisades, with more scheduled for this summer. The drills will culminate in a graded exercise evaluated by the NRC and FEMA.
Earlier this year, a coalition of environmental groups and a group of residents living near Palisades filed petitions with the NRC’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board in an effort to stop or delay the restart. In March, the board denied requests for full hearings on the petitions.
Palisades ceased power operations in May 2022, and was sold to Holtec for decommissioning shortly after. Just a few months later, a plan to restart the plant was announced. An initial funding request was denied, but a second effort was launched early in 2023.
Holtec is also seeking to build two small modular reactors, SMR-300s, at Palisades, which would add at least 600 megawatts to the plant’s 800-megawatt generating capacity. Preliminary activities are underway and Holtec plans to file a construction permit application for the SMRs in 2026.
There are currently no upcoming meetings scheduled for the Palisades restart, per the NRC website. Learn more about regulatory actions and upcoming meetings at nrc.gov/info-finder/reactors/pali.html.
— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Allegan County reaffirms support for Palisades restart. Where do efforts stand?
Reporting by Mitchell Boatman, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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