U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chair Christopher Hanson told U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Tipton, Michigan) environmental reviews are going well. He said the agency is reviewing the regulatory filings submitted by Holtec International and expects to have a decision next May.

“I would hope from our side, at least on the regulatory issues we’ve got, that we’re going to be done in less than a year,” said Hanson.

The latest update came during a Congressional hearing this week.

Palisades, the 800 MW facility in Covert Township, Michigan, would be upgraded to produce baseload power until at least 2051.

Holtec acquired the plant in June 2022 just after it was shut down. In early 2023, the company for federal loan funding to repower Palisades, which it received in the form of a $1.5 billion loan.

In May Holtec announced several milestones, including re-establishing the plant’s workforce, revitalizing training programs, procurement of plant systems and components, regulatory developments and firming up of funding streams. Holtec said more than 360 employees were working at the plant, an increase of nearly 150 personnel since the re-start began. The recruitment includes both former plant employees and new hires.

In addition to the main 800 MW reactor, Holtec intends to use the Palisades site as the location for its first two small modular reactor units, which would potentially add an additional 800 MW of generation capacity at the site.

Palisades is on track to become the U.S.’ first shut-down nuclear power plant to be recommissioned. The 800 MW facility in Covert Township would be upgraded to produce baseload power until at least 2051, subject to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing approvals. 

Holtec said more than 360 employees now work at the plant, an increase of nearly 150 personnel since the re-start began. The recruitment includes both former plant employees and new hires.

For its training program, Holtec has reconstituted its control room simulator and restored its operator training program. The company said 26 Palisades Licensed Operators are currently completing requalification classes to maintain their federal operating licenses and two initial Operator classes are in session, with a third Operator class in the pipeline to begin later this year.

Holtec is also undertaking plant work, including refurbishment of the generator exciter and restoration of the reactor vessel’s operational integrity in preparation for a deep chemical cleaning of the plant’s reactor cooling system. In the near future, Holtec said it will conduct an inspection of the reactor vessel internals and steam generators, along with long-term investments in preventive maintenance, equipment repairs, replacements, upgrades, and modifications.

Holtec says it has made “significant” progress in the regulatory space towards reauthorization of extended operations, including submitting five of the major licensing submittals to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

Holtec acquired the plant in June 2022 just after it was shutdown. In early 2023, the company for federal loan funding to repower Palisades. Palisades is the first project to be offered a conditional commitment through the Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment (EIR) program from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). EIR can finance projects that retool, repower, repurpose, or replace energy infrastructure that has ceased operations or enable operating energy infrastructure to avoid, reduce, utilize, or sequester air pollutants or greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition to the main 800 MW reactor, Holtec intends to use the Palisades site as the location for its first two small modular reactor units, which would potentially add an additional 800 MW of generation capacity at the site.

The announcement came from Former Michigan Governor and current Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, who toured Palisades Wednesday morning.

While the conditional commitment from DOE’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) demonstrates intent to finance the restart, Holtec must satisfy certain technical, legal, environmental and financial conditions before the Department enters into definitive financing, DOE said.

Still, the momentum points to Palisades becoming the first shut-down nuclear power plant to be recommissioned in the U.S. The 800 MW facility in Covert Township would be upgraded to produce baseload clean power until at least 2051, subject to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing approvals. 

“This is a triumph for the United States in our collective pursuit of a clean and dependable energy future,” said Dr. Kris Singh, Holtec President and CEO.

Holtec acquired the plant in June 2022 just after it was shutdown. In early 2023, the company for federal loan funding to repower Palisades. That was followed by a rigorous review of the loan application by the DOE and third-party advisors to consider technical, market and regulatory aspects, among others. Holtec officials said repowering Palisades was always going to be contingent on receiving federal funding.

Since the plant’s infrastructure already exists, the repowering project will not involve traditional major construction activities, but it will require inspections, testing, refurbishment, rebuilding and replacement of existing equipment, DOE said.

Holtec has also applied to reauthorize the Palisades operating license with the NRC. The company has submitted three licensing requests in pursuit of license reauthorization and anticipates submitting the remainder in spring 2024.

The Biden Administration is supportive of nuclear energy, believing it will play a critical role in reaching U.S. goals of a 100% clean electric grid by 2035 and a net-zero emissions economy by 2050. Since 2022, nearly two dozen states have considered legislation or enacted policies supportive of nuclear.

Support has been especially vocal for re-opening Palisades. In May 2023 a bipartisan group of Michigan lawmakers that make up a newly-formed nuclear energy caucus wrote a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expressing “full support” for the reopening of the plant. Whitmer herself has supported reopening Palisades as more solar and wind power infrastructure is built out.

Palisades is the first project to be offered a conditional commitment through the Energy Infrastructure Reinvestment (EIR) program from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). EIR can finance projects that retool, repower, repurpose, or replace energy infrastructure that has ceased operations or enable operating energy infrastructure to avoid, reduce, utilize, or sequester air pollutants or greenhouse gas emissions.

Holtec has already signed long-term Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for the full power output of Palisades with rural electric co-ops Wolverine Power Cooperative and Hoosier Energy in Michigan, Illinois and Indiana.

In addition to the main 800 MW reactor, Holtec intends to use the Palisades site as the location for its first two small modular reactor units, which would potentially add an additional 800 MW of generation capacity at the site.

Palisades began commercial operation in 1971.

This comes following reports that the federal government intends to offer a $1.5 billion loan to Holtec International to restart the plant. Palisades would be the first successfully restarted nuclear plant in the U.S. if the plan is fulfilled.

The proposed budget includes a one-time general fund for a $150 million targeted investment to support efforts to reopen the 800 MW plant in Covert Township, Michigan, following the initial $150 million approved for the 2023 budget. Holtec International bought the plant in 2022 and has applied for federal dollars to help get the plant running again.

In early 2023, Holtec applied with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office for federal loan funding to repower Palisades, and the Biden Administration has expressed support for extending the lives or even restarting large nuclear plants. These facilities have been retiring over the last decade because of competition from cheaper natural gas and renewables.

There is currently a $6 billion fund aimed at supporting the continued operation of U.S. nuclear plants or the reviving of already closed ones. The Civil Nuclear Credit (CNC) Program was born out of the infrastructure bill signed into law in November 2021.

Any restart of Palisades is contingent on federal dollars coming through. Holtec officials have been quoted as saying it would take hundreds of millions of dollars for facility renovations and to buy nuclear fuel.

Holtec will officially be offered the federal loan as soon as next month, sources told Bloomberg.

In September 2023, Holtec and Wolverine Power Cooperative announced the signing of a long-term power purchase agreement, where Wolverine would purchase up to two-thirds of the power generated by Palisades for its Michigan-based member rural electric cooperatives. Indiana-based Hoosier Energy, another G&T Cooperative, would purchase the rest.

In early 2023, Holtec applied with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office for federal loan funding to repower Palisades, an 800 MW plant in Covert Township, Michigan. Holtec had acquired the plant in June 2022 just after it was shutdown.

The Biden Administration has expressed support for extending the lives or even restarting large nuclear plants. These facilities have been retiring over the last decade because of competition from cheaper natural gas and renewables.

There is currently a $6 billion fund aimed at supporting the continued operation of U.S. nuclear plants or the reviving of already closed ones. The Civil Nuclear Credit (CNC) Program was born out of the infrastructure bill signed into law in November 2021.

Any restart of Palisades is contingent on federal dollars coming through. Holtec officials have been quoted as saying it would take hundreds of millions of dollars for facility renovations and to buy nuclear fuel.

Holtec will officially be offered the loan as soon as next month, sources told Bloomberg.

A spokesperson with Holtec would not confirm or deny Bloomberg’s reporting.

“We hope for a timely approval of our loan application to bring the plant back to full power operation toward the end of 2025,” the spokesperson said. “We will not speculate on anticipated timing but are hopeful to hear a favorable decision in the near future.”

In May 2023 a bipartisan group of Michigan lawmakers that make up a newly-formed nuclear energy caucus wrote a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expressing “full support” for the re-opening of Palisades.

Whitmer herself has supported reopening Palisades, a carbon-free baseload generating source as more solar and wind power infrastructure is built out.

Michigan also included $150 million to restart the plant in its latest budget passed in June 2023.

In September 2023, Holtec and Wolverine Power Cooperative announced the signing of a long-term power purchase agreement, where Wolverine would purchase up to two-thirds of the power generated by Palisades for its Michigan-based member rural electric cooperatives. Indiana-based Hoosier Energy, another G&T Cooperative, would purchase the rest.

The company participated in a public meeting Nov. 1 with U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff to discuss the matter. Holtec is hoping to obtain a Limited Work Authorization and Construction Permit application from NRC.

Holtec’s SMR-160 is a pressurized light-water reactor, generating 160 MWe/525 MWt using low-enriched uranium fuel, which could also produce process heat for industrial applications and hydrogen production.

It’s unclear how many SMR units Holtec plans to pursue at the Palisades site.

“Our company will continue to engage the agency as we work through pre-application activities,” a statement sent by Holtec reads in part. “The company has previously observed that former power plant sites – both nuclear and non-nuclear – may be ideal candidates for citing SMR, such as at Palisades.”

Holtec is targeting the end of the decade for SMR deployment.

The company acquired Palisades nuclear plant in June 2022 just after it was shut down. Holtec wants to restart the plant, but this is contingent on federal dollars to get the plant up and running again. In early 2023, Holtec applied with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office for federal loan funding to repower Palisades.

Federal energy officials are reviewing the $1 billion grant application, expected to be the primary investment in the nuclear plant restart.

In September Holtec and Wolverine Power Cooperative announced the signing of a long-term power purchase agreement that would allow the restart of the 800 MW plant.

Wolverine would purchase up to two-thirds of the power generated by Palisades for its Michigan-based member rural electric cooperatives. Indiana-based Hoosier Energy, another G&T Cooperative, would purchase the rest.

Palisades is now closer to becoming the first successfully restarted nuclear power plant in the U.S. Holtec acquired the plant in June 2022 just after it was shutdown.

“We are thrilled to enter into this partnership,” said Kelly Trice, President of Holtec Nuclear Generation and Decommissioning. “With key support from federal partners, Governor Whitmer, the Michigan legislature, and the local plant community, this will soon be a reality.”

But any restart is contingent on federal dollars to get the plant up and running again. In early 2023, Holtec applied with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office for federal loan funding to repower Palisades.

Federal energy officials are reviewing the $1 billion grant application, expected to be the primary investment in the nuclear plant restart. Holtec officials have been quoted as saying it would take hundreds of millions of dollars for facility renovations and to buy nuclear fuel.

Holtec also said it has participated in several public meetings with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff to discuss finding an NRC-licensed operator for the plant.

In May a bipartisan group of Michigan lawmakers that make up a newly-formed nuclear energy caucus wrote a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expressing “full support” for the re-opening of Palisades.

Whitmer herself has supported reopening Palisades, a carbon-free baseload generating source as more solar and wind power infrastructure is built out.

Michigan also included $150 million to restart the plant in its latest budget passed in June.

Some activists who long criticized Palisades as poorly maintained and dangerous don’t want it resurrected.

Earlier this year 43 organizations representing Indigenous, climate, environmental, Great Lakes and water protection, social and racial justice and other interests recently wrote a letter to all Michigan state legislators, urging them to reject state funding aimed at reopening the plant.

Palisades began commercial operation in 1971.

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts environmental regulators have denied a request by the company dismantling a shuttered nuclear power plant to release more than 1 million gallons (3.8 million liters) of radioactive wastewater into Cape Cod Bay.

The state Department of Environmental Protection’s draft decision issued July 26 said it denied Holtec’s request for a permit modification because the discharge from Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth would violate a state law that designates the bay as an ocean sanctuary.

The draft will not be finalized until after a public comment period that ends Aug. 25.

Environmentalists and politicians praised the decision.

Release of the treated wastewater would pose a threat to the bay’s environment, human health, the fishing and shellfishing industries, and the economy of the region, Andrew Gottlieb, executive director of the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, said in a statement.

“Holtec sought to profit at the expense of the people, the environment and economy of Cape Cod and, like most corporate bullies, needed to be told no,” he said.

Holtec promised a transparent decommissioning process when it took over the plant after it stopped generating power in May 2019, U.S. Sen. Edward Markey said

“In the years since, Holtec has fallen woefully short on this commitment — particularly with regard to its plans to discharge one million gallons of radioactive water into Cape Cod Bay, despite vehement opposition from local stakeholders,” he said.

In seeking its permit modification, Holtec said Pilgrim had discharged water into the bay for 50 years while the plant was generating electricity for the region and that environmental studies conducted by the plant operators and Holtec have shown that releasing the wastewater would have little or no environmental impact.

“We are disappointed by the state’s denial of our permit modification for discharge of treated water from Pilgrim Station that is well within established, safe limits,” Holtec said in a statement.

The company is also awaiting a pending decision on the issue from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“This process has already delayed the completion of the project for an additional four years, impacted the workforce on site and further changes when the site can be returned to be an economic driver for the Plymouth community,” the statement said.

Pilgrim was a boiling water reactor. Water constantly circulated through the reactor vessel and nuclear fuel, converting it to steam to spin the turbine. The water was cooled and recirculated, picking up radioactive contamination.

There are alternatives to discharging the water into the bay, including evaporation and trucking it off site for treatment and eventual discharge.

Holtec International bought the plant in 2022 and has applied for federal dollars to help get the plant running again. It hopes to tap a $6 billion fund at the Department of Energy earmarked to preserve the U.S. nuclear reactor fleet and associated jobs.

Federal energy officials are reviewing the $1 billion grant application, expected to be the primary investment in the nuclear plant restart. Holtec officials have been quoted as saying it would take hundreds of millions of dollars for facility renovations and to buy nuclear fuel.

In May a bipartisan group of Michigan lawmakers that make up a newly-formed nuclear energy caucus wrote a letter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer expressing “full support” for the re-opening of Palisades nuclear plant.

Whitmer herself has supported reopening Palisades, a carbon-free baseload generating source as more solar and wind power infrastructure is built out.

But activists who long criticized Palisades as poorly maintained and dangerous don’t want it resurrected.

43 organizations representing Indigenous, climate, environmental, Great Lakes and water protection, social and racial justice and other interests recently wrote a letter to all Michigan state legislators, urging them to reject state funding aimed at reopening the plant.

“We have the chance to make history by successfully repowering a non-operational nuclear power plant, becoming the first state in American history to accomplish such a feat,” state lawmakers wrote. “The successful re-powering of Palisades would immediately provide safe, carbon-free, and reliable energy to a grid that desperately needs more baseload generation.”

The 800 MW Palisades nuclear power plant is currently being decommissioned. Holtec International bought the plant in 2022 and shuttered it with an eye toward decommissioning the facility under an agreement with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

However, Holtec more recently applied for federal dollars to help get the plant running again. It hopes to tap a $6 billion fund at the Department of Energy earmarked to preserve the U.S. nuclear reactor fleet and associated jobs.

We previously reported that Michigan could chip in as much $300 million to help restart Palisades. Holtec officials were quoted as saying it would take hundreds of millions of dollars for facility renovations and to buy nuclear fuel.

Palisades, located in Covert, Michigan, began commercial operation in 1971.