Palisades takes key steps toward NRC restart approval

Holtec’s Palisades Nuclear Plant is inching closer to potential restart as ​the Nuclear Regulatory Commission intends to approve six licensing actions this week for the Michigan plant.  

In a July 17 notification of significant licensing action, NRC staff said it intends to green light key issues for plant restart.

By July 24, staff will “issue a final no significant hazards consideration determination and license amendment approving changes to the operating license and technical specifications to support the reauthorization of power operations.”

Prior to Holtec’s restart efforts, Palisades ceased operations under previous owner Entergy in May 2022 and entered decommissioning. 

Palisades is an 800-megawatt plant located in Covert Township, Mich. After being shut down in 2022, Holtec bought the plant from Entergy with the intention of decommissioning it but changed its original plans.

Along with the issuance of the power operations technical specifications license amendment, the staff will approve a license transfer application, exemption request and three license amendments supporting restart.

Palisades will not be eligible to load fuel prior to Aug. 25, the staff said.