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Released July 28, 2025 | SUGAR LAND
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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Last week, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved Holtec International's (Jupiter, Florida) request to shift the Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan from decommissioning status back to an operating license--marking the first time a previously shuttered U.S. nuclear plant has received approval to reopen--although there are still steps Holtec must take before reopening the plant.
Once returned to service, the Palisades plant would generate more than 800 megawatts of power--enough to power more than 800,000 households. Palisades began operating in 1971 but was closed in 2022 by then-owner Entergy (New Orleans, Louisiana), which sold the facility to Holtec for decommissioning. Holtec then submitted a filing with the NRC in late 2023 to formally begin the process of seeking federal authorization to repower the facility.
"The NRC's approval to transition Palisades back to an operating license represents an unprecedented milestone in U.S. nuclear energy," Kelly Trice, president of Holtec, said in a press release. "Our mission remains clear: to restart Palisades safely, securely, reliably, and in support of America's energy future..."
Holtec said the plant now is authorized to receive new fuel and load it into the reactor.
Regarding the restart progress, "extensive readiness work" is underway, Holtec said, including testing, inspections and maintenance; the company said it will continue working with federal regulators to further advance the project.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project and Plant databases can learn more by viewing the project report and Palisades plant profile.
However, in a statement, the NRC said, although the plant can now receive fuel, "there are still several licensing actions under NRC review and additional requirements that need to be met before the plant can start up under the original operating license, which would expire March 24, 2031."
The plant could reopen by the end of this year.
In a post on X promoting the decision, the NRC said it would apply "lessons learned as we work with other companies looking to restore decommissioning sites to full operation."
The Palisades restart effort received a financial boost in June, when the pro-nuclear Trump administration approved the U.S. Department of Energy's fourth loan disbursement ($100.4 million) for the project, part of an up-to $1.52 billion loan guarantee. The agency said this marked $251.8 million of guaranteed DOE funding disbursed to Holtec, as of June 20, after the initial loan closed in September 2024 at the end of then-president Joe Biden's term.
This is just one sign of the current administration's desire to boost U.S. nuclear generation: earlier this month, the NRC granted Vistra Energy Corporation's (Irving, Texas) request to extend the operating license for a nuclear power facility in Ohio into the 2040s. For more information on this and other nuclear plants that have received license extensions, see July 10, 2025, article - Vistra Granted 20-Year License Extension for Ohio Nuclear Plant.
In May, Trump signed four executive orders aimed at boosting U.S. nuclear generation capacity from approximately 100 gigawatts (GW) in 2024 to 400 GW by 2050.
Among the orders' components are prioritizing federal loans and loan guarantees for nuclear projects--including restarts--and a mandate instructing the NRC to streamline regulatory and licenses processes, in an effort to shrink the timeline for approving new applications to 18 months and one year for existing renewals.
The Trump administration also aims to boost capacity of small modular reactors (SMRs), smaller-scale nuclear reactors that offer a more versatile and smaller footprint compared to conventional nuclear reactors, with a lower price point and faster construction/installation times.
Holtec is exploring adding two 300-megawatt SMRs at the Palisades site, targeting 2030 for first commercial operation, subject to regulatory reviews and oversight. The company has said it plans to file a construction permit application for the SMRs next year. Subscribers can click here to read the project report.
Shortly after Trump's executive orders, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) (Knoxville, Tennessee) became the first utility company in the U.S. to submit a SMR construction permit application to the NRC. For more information, see May 30, 2025, article - TVA Seeks Construction Permit for Small Nuclear Reactor.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
Once returned to service, the Palisades plant would generate more than 800 megawatts of power--enough to power more than 800,000 households. Palisades began operating in 1971 but was closed in 2022 by then-owner Entergy (New Orleans, Louisiana), which sold the facility to Holtec for decommissioning. Holtec then submitted a filing with the NRC in late 2023 to formally begin the process of seeking federal authorization to repower the facility.
"The NRC's approval to transition Palisades back to an operating license represents an unprecedented milestone in U.S. nuclear energy," Kelly Trice, president of Holtec, said in a press release. "Our mission remains clear: to restart Palisades safely, securely, reliably, and in support of America's energy future..."
Holtec said the plant now is authorized to receive new fuel and load it into the reactor.
Regarding the restart progress, "extensive readiness work" is underway, Holtec said, including testing, inspections and maintenance; the company said it will continue working with federal regulators to further advance the project.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Power Project and Plant databases can learn more by viewing the project report and Palisades plant profile.
However, in a statement, the NRC said, although the plant can now receive fuel, "there are still several licensing actions under NRC review and additional requirements that need to be met before the plant can start up under the original operating license, which would expire March 24, 2031."
The plant could reopen by the end of this year.
In a post on X promoting the decision, the NRC said it would apply "lessons learned as we work with other companies looking to restore decommissioning sites to full operation."
The Palisades restart effort received a financial boost in June, when the pro-nuclear Trump administration approved the U.S. Department of Energy's fourth loan disbursement ($100.4 million) for the project, part of an up-to $1.52 billion loan guarantee. The agency said this marked $251.8 million of guaranteed DOE funding disbursed to Holtec, as of June 20, after the initial loan closed in September 2024 at the end of then-president Joe Biden's term.
This is just one sign of the current administration's desire to boost U.S. nuclear generation: earlier this month, the NRC granted Vistra Energy Corporation's (Irving, Texas) request to extend the operating license for a nuclear power facility in Ohio into the 2040s. For more information on this and other nuclear plants that have received license extensions, see July 10, 2025, article - Vistra Granted 20-Year License Extension for Ohio Nuclear Plant.
In May, Trump signed four executive orders aimed at boosting U.S. nuclear generation capacity from approximately 100 gigawatts (GW) in 2024 to 400 GW by 2050.
Among the orders' components are prioritizing federal loans and loan guarantees for nuclear projects--including restarts--and a mandate instructing the NRC to streamline regulatory and licenses processes, in an effort to shrink the timeline for approving new applications to 18 months and one year for existing renewals.
The Trump administration also aims to boost capacity of small modular reactors (SMRs), smaller-scale nuclear reactors that offer a more versatile and smaller footprint compared to conventional nuclear reactors, with a lower price point and faster construction/installation times.
Holtec is exploring adding two 300-megawatt SMRs at the Palisades site, targeting 2030 for first commercial operation, subject to regulatory reviews and oversight. The company has said it plans to file a construction permit application for the SMRs next year. Subscribers can click here to read the project report.
Shortly after Trump's executive orders, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) (Knoxville, Tennessee) became the first utility company in the U.S. to submit a SMR construction permit application to the NRC. For more information, see May 30, 2025, article - TVA Seeks Construction Permit for Small Nuclear Reactor.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).
