The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has held a series of public meetings near the Palisades nuclear plant since April to discuss its possible restart. The most recent meeting took place last week.

Background information on the ownership and operation of Palisades

Entergy, the previous owner, ceased operations at Palisades on May 20, 2022, and surrendered its operating license on June 13, 2022. Holtec International acquired the plant on June 28, 2022, initially to decommission it. However, in July 2022, Holtec applied for federal funds to restart the facility, a move supported by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has committed $1.5 billion and the state of Michigan has awarded $300 million for this restart plan. Holtec is seeking additional funding, totaling more than $15.7 billion, for the restart and other projects.

In announcing the $1.5 billion in federal funding, Governor Whitmer stated, “Palisades is coming back. Thanks to effective collaboration between the Biden-Harris Administration, the State of Michigan, the Michigan Legislature, and Holtec, operations at Palisades will soon begin to restart. Once completed, Palisades will become the first successfully restarted nuclear power plant in U.S. history, protecting 600 union jobs at the plant, 1,100 in the community, and access to clean, reliable energy for 800,000 homes. We will lead and build the future here in Michigan with our 100% clean energy by 2040 goal, the strongest clean energy labor standards in the country, and tools to build more renewable energy faster. Let’s keep it going.”

Holtec’s NRC requests and plans for Palisades

Holtec has filed multiple requests with the NRC, including a license transfer, a “waiver request,” and several license modification requests (LARs), targeting an August 2025 restart. These requests are under review, and Federal Register Notices (FRNs) are expected soon, triggering a 60-day period for public intervention. In addition to the planned restart, Holtec plans to build two SMR-300 reactors at the site, with the goal of nearly doubling Michigan’s carbon-free generating capacity. The company aims to file combined operating permits (COLs) for these reactors by 2026 and hopes to bring them online by 2030.

Public meetings, environmental opposition, stakeholder perspectives

During the public meetings, in-person attendees were given priority for comments and questions, with participation also available via webinar and teleconference. An environmental coalition, including Beyond Nuclear and Don’t Waste Michigan, has pledged to challenge Holtec’s plans. They have already filed an objection to the “Exemption” Request and plan to challenge other LARs.

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Public meetings were held on April 17, July 11, and most recently on August 1. Both proponents and opponents of the restart presented their positions. Proponents argued that the plant was safe to close and that the NRC would ensure safety when it reopened. They emphasized benefits such as tax revenue, job creation, support for Michigan’s carbon-free goals, and reliable energy.

Opponents raised concerns about nuclear waste, aging infrastructure, potential tritium releases, historical equipment problems, environmental impacts and the cost of repairs. They also criticized the use of government funds and questioned Holtec’s experience as a plant operator.

Environmental and safety concerns

The environmental coalition has fiercely opposed the proposed restart, citing numerous safety and environmental concerns. Kevin Kamps, a radioactive waste specialist with Beyond Nuclear, highlighted issues such as the reactor’s age, a brittle pressure vessel, outdated steam generators and inadequate safety maintenance since the shutdown. The coalition fears that restarting Palisades could lead to serious accidents reminiscent of past nuclear disasters.

“Palisades has a long list of paths to a meltdown. These include the worst neutron-embrittled reactor pressure vessel in the country and perhaps the world, steam generators and a reactor vessel closure head that have been in desperate need of replacement for two decades, containment pans and filters so small they clog in an emergency and block the flow of vital cooling water, fire hazards that have not been addressed, and the worst Control Rod Drive Mechanism seal leakage problem in the industry, dating back to 1972. Some of these already serious problems have become worse since the shutdown due to a lack of active safety maintenance, a reflection of Holtec’s inexperience and incompetence — it has never operated a reactor, let alone one as outdated and risky as Palisades. Despite all this, Holtec has no plans to fix any of these problems. The NRC does not require it.”

In 2012, an independent investigation by the Japanese parliament into the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster concluded that collusion between the safety regulator, industry and government officials was the root cause. According to Kamps, similar collusion is evident at Palisades, putting the plant and the surrounding area and communities at significant risk.

The debate over the future of Palisades underscores the broader national discussion about the role of nuclear power in the transition to low-carbon electricity. As the NRC continues its review process, the outcome of the Palisades restart efforts will be closely watched by industry and public sector stakeholders.