Federal nuclear regulators will soon review plans to repair damaged steam generator tubes at the Palisades nuclear plant during a meeting with facility owner Holtec International. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is set to host the session on January 9, 2024, at its headquarters in Maryland, with an online option for the public to observe. The meeting will begin at 1 p.m.
The Palisades plant, an 800-megawatt nuclear power facility in Southwest Michigan, was shut down for inspections several months ago, revealing that a “large number” of steam generator tubes needed repair. These steam generators are critical components, transferring heat from the nuclear reactor to the main steam system.
Holtec International, the plant’s owner, has proposed using a repair technique known as “sleeving” to address the damage. Sleeving involves placing metallic sheeting around the damaged tubes, a method that has been used in the nuclear industry since the 1980s. According to Holtec spokesman Nick Culp, sleeving is a proven repair strategy. The company plans to use this method to prepare the plant for its anticipated restart next year.
The NRC meeting will also address a long-term safety issue concerning the plant’s primary coolant system. Officials will discuss the plant’s “leak-before-break” analysis, which assesses the risk of coolant system failure.
However, not everyone is convinced by the proposed repairs. Michael Keegan, a longtime nuclear critic from the group Don’t Waste Michigan, expressed skepticism about the meeting and the sleeving strategy. “I don’t believe the NRC would have scheduled the meeting if they hadn’t already green-lighted what Holtec is about to present,” Keegan said, suggesting the process is more of a formality. He argues that the steam generators should be entirely replaced, though he acknowledges that this could take up to two years—an unlikely option given the state and federal push to bring the plant back online quickly.
The outcome of the NRC meeting could have significant implications for the plant’s future, as regulatory approval is a key step in restarting operations at Palisades.
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