Basic Facts:
- Location: Covert Township, Michigan
- Owner / Operator: Entergy Nuclear Palisades
- Construction Cost: $800M (2018$)
- Plant Output: 800 MW
- Property Size: 430 acres
- Employees: 650
- Status: Shut Down Scheduled 2022
- Current DTF Balance: $520M (2018$)
- DTF Balance Prior to Decommissioning: $540M (2018$)
- Decommissioning Cost Estimate: $560M (2018$)
- Spent Nuclear Fuel on Site: 695 metric tons
Background
Palisades is an 800MW pressurized water reactor that was built between 1967 and 1970 and received its operating license in 1971. In 2007, the plant received an operating license renewal extending the operating life of the plant to 2031. In 2016, the plant owners announced plans to close the plant in 2018. This decision was later amended and the plant is now scheduled to be shut down in 2022.
Decommissioning
In August of 2018, Entergy announced plans to sell the subsidiary that owns the Palisades Power Plant, after its shutdown and reactor defueling, to a Holtec International subsidiary for decommissioning. Regulatory approvals of this sale, and a timeline for decommissioning, are pending.
Socioeconomics
The Palisades Nuclear Plant is located in Van Buren County, Michigan. As of 2016:
- Population: 75,000
- Per Capita Annual Income: $39,000
- Unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted): 5.8%
Palisades nuclear is one of the largest taxpayers in Van Buren County, paying $9.9 million in property taxes in 2016, which comprised 7% of the county’s tax base. The plant provides $67 million in annual wages for its 650 full-time employees.
Contact Information
Economic Development Administration Representative:
- Lee Shirey, Chicago Regional Office, t: (215) 597-8719, e: [email protected]
Economic Development District
University Center
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Contact
- Viktoria Mitlyng, Sr. Public Affairs Officer, t: (630) 829-9662, e: [email protected]
- Palisades Nuclear Plant
Unless specific costing information has been provided, decommissioning costs were derived from 2017 Decommissioning Funding Status Report.
Information herein obtained from public sources. Corrections are welcome and may be directed to [email protected].
Additional Information
Palisades Nuclear Plant has shut down 10 days early, owners announce
Palisades Nuclear Plant has shut down 10 days early, owners announceSOUTH HAVEN – Palisades Nuclear Plant ceased operations Friday, May 20, Entergy Corp. announced Friday afternoon. The 800-megawatt power plant in Covert Township had originally been scheduled to shut down May 31, but a company media release said operators “made the conservative decision to shut […]
Read MoreNonprofit backs Whitmer’s bid to keep nuclear plant running
Nonprofit backs Whitmer’s bid to keep nuclear plant running – Grand Rapids Business Journal Gov. Gretchen Whitmer asked for federal aid in retaining Palisades Nuclear Plant in Van Buren County, a move backed by Benton-Harbor based workforce development agency Kinexus Group. The Entergy-owned plant generates 15% of Michigan’s clean energy and 6.5% of Michigan’s electricity. […]
Read MoreSurvey Seeks Public Input On Palisades Closure
Survey Seeks Public Input On Palisades Closure The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission has launched a survey to learn about the public’s concerns as the closure of the Palisades nuclear power plant draws near. Director John Egelhaaf tells WSJM News the commission is preparing for the closure from multiple angles.
Read MoreWhitmer requests federal funds to stop Palisades plant closure
Whitmer requests federal funds to stop Palisades plant closure COVERT – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is asking for federal dollars to prevent the closure of Palisades Nuclear Power Plant. The governor sent a letter to the Department of Energy on Wednesday, asking that funds from the $6 billion Civil Nuclear Credit program be used to prevent […]
Read MoreWhitmer backs federal aid to stop closure of Palisades nuclear plant
Whitmer backs federal aid to stop closure of Palisades nuclear plant Michigan officials are racing to take advantage of newly announced federal funding that could ensure the continued operation of Palisades Power Plant, a west Michigan nuclear energy plant slated for closure at the end of May. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced her intention to support […]
Read MorePalisades owner details upcoming job losses tied to nuclear plant closure
Palisades owner details upcoming job losses tied to nuclear plant closure COVERT – The owner of the Palisades nuclear power plant in Southwest Michigan disclosed last week that 184 jobs will be eliminated soon after the plant permanently closes on May 31. COVERT – The owner of the Palisades nuclear power plant in Southwest Michigan […]
Read MorePUBLIC INFO MEETING TO EXAMINE PPUBLIC INFO MEETING TO EXAMINE PALISADES SHUTDOWN & ECONOMIC IMPACTALISADES SHUTDOWN & ECONOMIC IMPACT
Public Info Meeting To Examine Palisades Shutdown & Economic Impact The coming permanent shutdown of the Palisades Nuclear Plant and the economic impact of that move are increasingly taking up ‘mindspace’ of Van Buren County government leaders and business people. There’s a committee to analyze and communicate the facts to local citizens. And that panel […]
Read MoreNuclear Group Seeking To Keep Palisades Open
Nuclear Group Seeking To Keep Palisades Open The Michigan and Ohio Section of the American Nuclear Society has sent a letter to Governor Gretchen Whitmer urging her and state lawmakers to reconsider the closure of the Palisades nuclear power plant in May. The organization representing engineers and scientists who work in the nuclear industry says […]
Read MorePalisades nuclear power plant near Covert to be decommissioned
Palisades nuclear power plant near Covert to be decommissioned by: Madalyn Buursma Posted: / Updated: COVERT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) – The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved the license transfer for the Palisades and Big Rock Point nuclear power plants. Entergy Nuclear Operations currently holds the license for Palisades in Covert Township and the already decommissioned […]
Read MoreNuclear waste storage clouds future of Michigan’s Palisades Power Plant
Nuclear waste storage clouds future of Michigan’s Palisades Power Plant
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