Basic Facts:
- Location: Covert Township, Michigan
- Owner / Operator: Holtec International
- 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. The operating license was transferred from Entergy to Holtec International on June 28, 2022.
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: lshirey@eda.gov
Economic Development District
University Center
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Contact
- Viktoria Mitlyng, Sr. Public Affairs Officer, t: (630) 829-9662, e: viktoria.mitlyng@nrc.gov
- 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 info@decommissioningcollaborative.org.
Additional Information
NRC Palisades holds Restart Panel in Benton Harbor
NRC Palisades holds Restart Panel in Benton HarborABC57 News in South Bend, Ind. covers all of Michiana including St. Joseph, Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaPorte and Marshall counties in Indiana and Berrien, Cass, Van Buren and St. Joseph counties in Mich.
NRC taking the next step toward a possible restart of Palisades nuclear plant
NRC taking the next step toward a possible restart of Palisades nuclear plant The historic effort to restart the Palisades nuclear plant in southwest Michigan took another step forward on Thursday night when the U.S. Nuclear …
Ambitious plan to restart nuclear plant creates cheerleaders and critics
Ambitious plan to restart nuclear plant creates cheerleaders and critics From MichiganLive, May 24, 2024
Issues of the Environment: The debate over nuclear power in Michigan
Issues of the Environment: The debate over nuclear power in Michigan It appears the state of Michigan plans to add more nuclear power to its energy portfolio. It is certainly cleaner energy than fossil fuels, but the threat to the environment and public health is much greater, should something go wrong.
MichMash: Michigan’s bipartisan support for nuclear power
Michigan’s bipartisan support for nuclear power – WDET 101.9 FM State Rep. Graham Filler joins “MichMash” to discuss the bipartisan support in the Legislature for reopening Michigan’s Palisades nuclear plant.
Palisades nuclear plant restart up for public discussion in Benton Harbor
Palisades nuclear plant restart up for public discussion in Benton Harbor Nuclear Regulatory Commission to host public outreach meeting about potential nuclear plant repowering.
How to reopen a nuclear power plant
How to reopen a nuclear power plant Palisades Power Plant in Michigan could be the first shut-down nuclear plant to restart operations.
Nuclear plant restart plan stirs hope, reunions in small Michigan town
Nuclear plant restart plan stirs hope, reunions in small Michigan town | Bridge Michigan The Palisades Nuclear Plant in Covert Township could be the first shuttered nuclear facility to reopen in the U.S.
Feds award $1.5 billion for Palisades nuclear plant restart
Feds award $1.5 billion for Palisades nuclear plant restart | Bridge Michigan Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm touted the southwest Michigan plant as a key part of America’s energy future. Opponents questioned the safety of the 53-year-old facility.
Federal money could supercharge state efforts to preserve nuclear power
Federal money could supercharge state efforts to preserve nuclear power * Missouri Independent In the coming years, a nuclear power plant on the shores of Lake Michigan could become the first in the country to restart operations after shutting down. The Palisades plant in southwest Michigan could be revived by a $1.5 billion loan from […]