$1.5 billion plan to revive nuclear power plant

The US government will provide a $1.5 billion loan to restart the 800 MW Palisades nuclear power plant in southwest Michigan.

Palisades Nuclear Power Plant. Photo: Nuclear Regulatory Commission — Palisades Nuclear Power Plant. Photo: *Nuclear Regulatory Commission*

Holtec International, an American company, acquired the Palisades plant in 2022 with plans to dismantle the facility. But now the company is aiming to restart the plant by the end of 2025 with support from the state of Michigan and the Joe Biden administration, Interesting Engineering reported on March 28.

Palisades, an 800-megawatt facility that will be shut down in May 2022, will be the first nuclear power plant to reopen in the United States, according to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The plant will still face challenges such as inspections, testing, and approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

"Holtec has secured a conditional $1.5 billion loan commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy to reopen the Palisades nuclear power plant, securing 600 high-paying, high-skilled jobs and providing clean, reliable electricity to 800,000 homes. Once open, Palisades will be the first successful restart of a nuclear power plant in U.S. history," Whitmer said.

Nuclear power plants stand out for their ability to produce large amounts of electricity without emitting greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. This environmental friendliness has won support from both policymakers and industry leaders. However, modernizing reactors such as Palisades presents financial and logistical challenges.

The Palisades plant’s revival is expected to be a major environmental boon. Over its expected 25-year life, the plant is estimated to prevent 111 million tons of CO2 emissions, the equivalent of taking 970,000 gasoline-powered cars off the road each year. The plant’s clean energy will be a vital addition to the grid, especially as coal plants are phased out. Palisades has already reached agreements to sell all of its electricity to rural electric utilities in Michigan, Illinois, and Indiana.

Thu Thao (According to Interesting Engineering )

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