In Its Commitment to Nuclear Energy, the U.S. Is Considering Doing the Unprecedented: Reactivating a Closed Plant

The Palisades nuclear plant next to Lake Michigan ceased operations in 2022. The plant opened in 1971, which means it was active for 51 years, while typically, a nuclear power plant’s physical life lasts 40 years. This period reflects the minimum time that must elapse since commissioning and during which the plant operates with full guarantees of safety and profitability.

However, we’re interested in another concept regarding nuclear plants: service life. This parameter reflects when a nuclear power plant can operate safely and economically. It must meet all the requirements of the applicable regulations. Not surprisingly, the service life can be longer than the physical life. In fact, 18 of the 32 countries with nuclear power plants consider long-term operation (LTO) as a viable practice. The U.S. is one of them.

The Palisades Nuclear Plant Has a Peculiar History

After its closure in 2022, Holtec International purchased the Palisades nuclear plant from its original owner, CMS Energy Corporation. The plant consisted of a single pressurized water reactor with a capacity of 805 MWe. After the purchase, Holtec began decommissioning the plant, although the structure and equipment remained intact. The turning point came in October 2023, when the current owner announced it would apply to restart the Palisades plant.

In this context, one shouldn't ignore the fact that this nuclear plant has already benefited from the LTO, which makes the possibility of its reopening all the more striking. And it’s by no means a remote possibility. In fact, this project has the support of the Biden administration, which issued a loan guarantee to Holtec in March of this year to support its reactivation. In addition, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has already been analyzing the project. It expects to make a final decision on its feasibility in May 2025.

If all goes as Holtec expects, the Palisades nuclear plant will restart normal commercial operations in August 2025. At that time, it'll be the first nuclear plant in the U.S. to reopen after closing. As expected, the NRC will approve the restart only if the plant meets all the requirements of current safety regulations.

And if it does, it'll set a compelling precedent: It’s possible to extend the life of a nuclear power plant beyond half a century as long as its equipment meets all regulations. We’ll see what the NRC ultimately decides. Still, if I had to bet on it, I’d go with the possibility that the Palisades plant and its 600 workers will finally continue regular operations in August 2025.

This article was written by Juan Carlos López and originally published in Spanish on Xataka.

Image | Holtec International

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