A milestone in the US nuclear industry, the reactivation of a decommissioned power station

The Palisades nuclear power plant, located in Michigan in the United States, was decommissioned in 2022 after 51 years of activity, exceeding its design life (usually 40 years) but not its useful life, as it operated in compliance with all quality and safety standards.

Its current owner, Holtec International, acquired the 805 MWe pressurized water plant in 2022 from CMS Energy Corporation and began the decommissioning phase by storing the fuel used in the reactor in the facility's pool. However, a year later, in October 2023, it started the application procedure for its reopening.

The US regulatory body, the NRC, began a review of the application and this year informed the US Congress of the process. The NRC is expected to make a final decision in May 2025 and the plant is expected to resume operation in August.

The project also has the backing of the US government, which in March provided a loan guarantee to Holtec to facilitate the restart of Palisades.

This is a milestone in the history of US nuclear power, as Palisades will become the first plant to return to operation after being decommissioned. Its reactivation will provide emission-free power until at least 2051, avoiding the emission of approximately 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.