The Palisades Nuclear Plant, located near South Haven, Michigan, could reopen in 2025, pending regulatory approval. The plant, which ceased operations in 2022, is owned by Holtec International, which has been actively seeking the necessary permissions to restart the facility.
The Biden administration has pledged $2 billion in loans to support the plant’s reopening, while Michigan state officials have offered an additional $150 million. Holtec has stated that reopening Palisades would provide the state with 800 megawatts of power without carbon emissions and create 600 new jobs in the area.
Local governments in Covert Township, where the plant is located, as well as nearby South Haven, have passed resolutions supporting the project. However, the proposal has faced opposition from some residents.
John Snow, a Covert Township resident, voiced concerns at a public meeting in November regarding the storage of spent fuel in the dunes near the plant. “Now you’re talking about opening up something that is almost antique, trying to do something experimental at the cost of what? — the next six, seven, eight, ten generations,” Snow said.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has indicated that it will make a final decision on the plant’s potential restart by the end of July 2025.
