Palisades nuclear reactor restart continues despite work environment safety findings
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has granted permission to Holtec International, owner of the Palisades nuclear reactor , to retrieve a potentially compromised fuel assembly, although the plant received a warning about its work environment. At some point after August 30, as new fuel was being lowered into the reactor, one of the fuel assemblies tipped, causing the plant's planned restart to…
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has permitted Holtec International, the operator of the Palisades nuclear reactor, to retrieve a potentially compromised fuel assembly. This move comes after the reactor was halted due to a fuel assembly tipping incident during the restart process. If Holtec successfully retrieves the fuel assembly, the plant's restart is expected to proceed under NRC supervision.
Holtec acquired the decommissioned Palisades reactor in 2022, and it is now a symbol of the US nuclear energy revival, driven by artificial intelligence technologies.
The NRC highlighted that the reactor's work environment suffered from a "chilled" atmosphere in the supply chain and quality assurance departments, making employees reluctant to report safety concerns for fear of retaliation. Patrick O'Brien, Holtec's director of government affairs and communications, stated that the company is addressing these issues and committed to maintaining a safe work environment.
However, concerns persist among those worried about the plant's safety and the restart of "zombie reactors", which could pose a significant threat to the Great Lakes region, including drinking water supplies for millions of people.
Kevin Kamps, executive director of environmental group Don't Waste Michigan, expressed alarm over the NRC's decision to allow Holtec to proceed with the fuel assembly retrieval. Nuclear engineer Arnie Gundersen also criticized the NRC's approval, noting the plant's recent safety lapses, such as lost control of a fuel bundle, failed operator exams, and staff discomfort in reporting concerns.
Despite these issues, the NRC affirmed that no radiation was released during the incident and reassured the public that safety requirements would be monitored.
Holtec responded positively to the NRC's decision, emphasizing adherence to engineering evaluations and safety standards. The company anticipates Palisades could be operational by March 2027. Since decommissioning in 2022, the Palisades reactor has faced multiple controversies, including safety dismissals in 2012, security staff removal in 2016 for fire protocol violations, and a worker fall in a pool of water in 2025.
Holtec plans to have the plant back online by March 2027, pending completion of all required work and federal standards compliance.
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