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 has stated that the shuttered Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan could be restarted before the end of this year. The plant, owned by Holtec International, has been shut down since 2022 and is currently undergoing a restart process. Wright, who visited the reactor during a tour with reporters, emphasized that the restart would provide 800MW of additional, reliable and secure energy to the region. He also criticized the Democratic Party for opposing energy production during his news conference.
However, the restart of the Palisades plant has faced opposition from critics. Kevin Kamps, executive director of environmental advocacy group Don't Waste Michigan, called the reactor a "zombie reactor" and warned that restarting it would lead to reckless behavior with radioactive materials. Kamps accused Holtec of wasting taxpayer money and risking a nuclear disaster that could impact the Great Lakes region.
The concerns surrounding the restart are not unfounded. In September, a nuclear fuel assembly was tipped during a refueling process at the plant, though no radiation was released. Holtec described the rescue of the tipped fuel as a "remarkable demonstration of technical ingenuity and precision manufacturing." Despite this mishap, there have been other incidents at the plant.
In 2012, an NRC report raised concerns about the plant's work culture, where safety concerns were often dismissed. In 2016, when the plant was owned by Entergy, security staff were placed on leave for failing to follow fire prevention protocols. In October 2025, a worker fell into a pool of water while refueling the reactor, though the worker was not seriously injured.
Following an inspection, the NRC expressed concern that a "chilled work environment" existed in the supply chain and quality assurance departments, with employees hesitant to raise safety concerns due to fear of retaliation. Holtec has stated that they are taking steps to address these issues and maintain a safe work environment.
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