Restart date for Michigan Palisades nuclear plant remains uncertain

Energy Secretary Chris Wright expressed hope that the Michigan Palisades nuclear plant, an 800-MW facility closed since 2022, would resume operations before the end of the year, possibly as early as November 30, according to enr.com.

However, Holtec International, the company managing the restart, has not committed to a specific date following a recent incident at the jobsite and a warning from federal regulators about the plant's safety culture.

The restart process, which began in 2025 and has been supported by $1.5 billion in federal funds, faced a setback on August 30 when a fuel assembly tilted unexpectedly inside the reactor. This incident caused a disruption but no radiation release or injuries.

Federal regulators approved an alternative method to safely remove the tilted fuel assembly, which was completed in late October. Despite this progress, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission identified a 'chilled work environment' at the plant, where employees feared retaliation for raising safety concerns.

The commission emphasized the need for Holtec and Palisades to improve their workplace culture to ensure staff feel comfortable reporting safety issues. Holtec's Chief Nuclear Officer stated the company remains committed to safety and technical rigor during the restart process.

Opponents of the restart, including nuclear safety experts, have expressed concerns, but regulators found no major safety violations that would prevent the plant from restarting.