Palisades nuclear plant will restart before end of year, Chris Wright says during visit to 'zombie reactor'
Despite a string of safety incidents, the shuttered Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan might be restarted before the end of this year, according to US Energy Secretary Chris Wright . Mr Wright visited the reactor owned by Holtec International that was shut down in 2022 but is now in the process of restarting. The plant has become a symbol for the nuclear energy sector in the US, which is…
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced that the Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan will resume operations before the end of the year, despite a series of safety incidents. The plant, owned by Holtec International, was shut down in 2022 but is now undergoing a restart. Wright highlighted the significance of the plant's restart, stating that it will provide 800MW of reliable and secure energy, lower costs for Michigan residents, create jobs, and prevent blackouts.
However, the decision to restart the plant has faced criticism from environmental advocates. Kevin Kamps, director of Don't Waste Michigan, warned of the potential risks associated with restarting a decommissioned nuclear plant, likening it to playing "radioactive Russian roulette" and risking a catastrophic event similar to Chernobyl or Fukushima.
Holtec has acknowledged safety concerns, including a fuel assembly that was tipped during a refueling process in September. Despite these incidents, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has stated that no radiation was released, and Holtec described the recovery as a "remarkable demonstration of technical ingenuity and precision manufacturing."
However, the NRC has also expressed concerns about the plant's work culture, noting that employees are hesitant to raise safety concerns due to fear of retaliation.
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