The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has granted several crucial licensing and regulatory approvals for the Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan, enabling the facility to resume operations later this year. This decision marks a significant development in the U.S. nuclear energy sector, as Palisades is set to become the first plant to restart after being decommissioned.
Holtec International, the company overseeing the plant’s revival, confirmed that the NRC has authorized the plant to receive new fuel and transition its licensed reactor operators to on-shift status. According to Holtec President Kelly Trice, “The NRC’s approval to transition Palisades back to an operating license represents an unprecedented milestone in U.S. nuclear energy.”
Path to Restarting Operations
The NRC has highlighted that while the approvals are a major step forward, several licensing actions remain under review. Additional requirements must be fulfilled before the plant can operate under its original license, which is set to expire on March 24, 2031. The regulatory agency also confirmed the transfer of operating authority for the plant and its independent spent fuel storage facility from Holtec Decommissioning International to Palisades Energy. Moreover, the NRC approved Holtec’s request to reinstate various documents and programs that were in place prior to the plant’s shutdown.
The journey to restart Palisades began after the plant was closed in May 2022 by its former owner, Entergy. Holtec acquired the facility in June of that year and initiated steps toward bringing it back online in late 2023. In a key finding, the NRC determined that Holtec’s efforts posed “no significant impact” to the human environment, a critical consideration in the review process.
Wider Implications for Nuclear Energy
The decision to restart Palisades comes at a time when demand for electricity is on the rise. This has prompted the owners of two other recently shuttered U.S. nuclear power plants to pursue similar paths. Constellation Energy announced in September plans to revive the undamaged 835-MW reactor at Three Mile Island, now known as the Crane Clean Energy Center, by 2028. Additionally, NextEra Energy is taking preliminary steps to restart the 600-MW reactor at the Duane Arnold nuclear plant in Iowa, which was closed in 2020.
The NRC’s actions signal a renewed interest in nuclear energy as a viable option for meeting growing electricity demands while addressing environmental concerns. As energy markets continue to evolve, the successful restart of Palisades may pave the way for future projects aimed at revitalizing decommissioned plants across the United States.
