COVERT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WNDU) – Work to restart the reactor at the Palisades nuclear plant continues. If that happens, it’ll be a first in the nation’s history.
Meantime, a strategic agreement signed today seeks to bring two small modular reactors (SMRs) onto the site by 2030. If that happens, that’ll be a first for the nation.
The two small modular reactors would be manufactured in a plant in New Jersey and transported to the Palisades grounds for installation.
Each of the two Palisades SMRs would produce up to 300 megawatts of electricity for a total of 600 megawatts.
“Indeed, energy is the very foundation of our modern life and the future economy,” said Dr. Rick Springman, president of global clean energy opportunities at Holtec International. “Electricity is the enabler of AI, microchip manufacturing, modern car production and EVs. Advanced steel and aluminum production empowers our military bases”
The Palisades plant closed in May of 2022. Never before has a decommissioned nuclear power plant in the U.S. been recommissioned, so this would be a first.
“I’ve been asked to give you a few milestones associated with the restart of Palisades,” explained Kelly Trice, president of Holtec International. “One, of course, we closed the Department of Energy loan. Two, we have almost fully staffed the plant now for those that don’t know, we’ve added 350 jobs for a total now of 560 people on site. There’s actually, if you count the building trades and the professionals on the job, there’s now 1,400 people approximately working on this job to get this started before this year is out.”
The plan is to have the Palisades plant producing power again by October of this year.
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