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
Nuclear Group Seeking To Keep Palisades Open
Nuclear Group Seeking To Keep Palisades OpenThe 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 closing […]
Palisades 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 […]
Nuclear waste storage clouds future of Michigan’s Palisades Power Plant
Nuclear waste storage clouds future of Michigan’s Palisades Power Plant
Economic study to analyze impact of Palisades closure
Economic study to analyze impact of Palisades closure COVERT – In less than a year, the economic landscape of Van Buren County is expected to change significantly with the closure of the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant. In an effort to identify potential problems, the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission plans to conduct a study to determine […]
Palisades Nuclear Plant prepares to shut down
Palisades Nuclear Plant prepares to shut down COVERT, Mich. – A nuclear plant named after the stunning dunes that surround it provides power for 800,000 Southwest Michigan homes and businesses. That would be Palisades in Covert. But after 50 years, its owner, New Orleans-based Entergy, has decided it’s time to turn the nuclear reactor off […]
Van Buren County Leaders Preparing For Palisades Closure
Van Buren County Leaders Preparing For Palisades Closure Leaders in Van Buren County are talking about how to reduce negative economic effects of the closure of the Palisades nuclear plant next year. Speaking to the South Haven City Council on Monday, Palisades project manager John Faul said he’s been in talks with economic developers and […]
$1.2M grant aims to help Southwest Michigan through aftermath of nuclear power plant closure
$1.2M grant aims to help Southwest Michigan through aftermath of nuclear power plant closure COVERT, MI – Michigan State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks today applauded the announcement of a more than $1.2 million grant being awarded for economic recovery and planning as Southwest Michigan prepares for the closure of the Palisades Nuclear Generating Station in 2022. […]
U.S. EDA PROVIDING GRANT FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY STRATEGY AHEAD OF PALISADES SHUTDOWN
U.S. EDA Providing Grant for Economic Recovery Strategy Ahead of Palisades Shutdown With the clock ticking on the shutdown and eventual decommissioning of the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant at Covert, the collective community of Michigan’s Great Southwest will get a sizeable boost in planning for a future without the plant and the resultant jobs thanks […]
Palisades Power Plant employees prepare for last year on the job
Palisades Power Plant employees prepare for last year on the job COVERT – In less than 400 days, Palisades Power Plant in Covert will stop producing nuclear power. But activities at the plant will be far from over. The plant will close for operation by May 31, 2022, but then the decommissioning process will begin. […]
Nessel seeks to stop license transfer for closing SW Michigan nuclear plant
Nessel seeks to stop license transfer for closing SW Michigan nuclear plant Mar. 2-Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is seeking to stop a license transfer of a southwest Michigan nuclear plant and fuel storage site near Lake Michigan due to concerns about the financial capabilities and “assurances” to decommission the facilities by the potential new […]