The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received the first stage of a Holtec subsidiary’s two-part construction permit application for two small modular reactors (SMRs) at Palisaded nuclear power plant in Michigan.
NRC is reviewing the application to see if it is complete. If so, the application will then be docketed for a detailed technical review that would not take longer than 18 months, according to NRC’s Tuesday press release.
Holtec subsidiary SMR LLC, submitted the partial application Dec. 31, seeking a limited work authorization for specific construction tasks for its two proposed SMRs, according to the release. The SMRs are designed to generate 340 megawatts each.
Limited work authorization allows applicants to begin non-safety related site preparation before the construction permit or combined license is issued. This part of Holtec’s application covers activities such as soil compaction, backfilling and installing foundations, according to the release.
NRC expects to receive the second portion of Holtec’s application in mid-2027. However, if NRC issues Holtec’s construction permit, the company will still need an operation license.
Holtec’s two Palisades SMRs, named Pioneer Units 1 and 2, will be supported by a $400 million award from the Department of Energy that was announced last month. Tennessee Valley Authority, which is working on a SMR at Clinch River in Tennessee, was the other recipient of a $400 million dollar award.
The federal cost-shared funding will serve to help advance early SMR projects in both Tennessee and Michigan, DOE said.
Parallel to Holtec’s SMR plans, the company is still expecting the restart of its 800-megawatt reactor at Palisades nuclear power plant in Covert, Mich. to occur soon.