UPDATE: $1.5 Billion Loan Approved to Reopen Michigan Nuclear Powerplant

UPDATE 3/29/24: Biden has approved the legislation for a $1.5 billion loan to get the nuclear power plant started back up. While the loan has been approved, it still faces multiple hurdles including inspections, testing, and final approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission before the plant begins generating power.

ORIGINAL:

The phrase "nuclear" tends to put a bad taste in people's mouths, however, nuclear power is one of the most renewable sources of energy. Michigan currently has three nuclear power plants around the state, with one of the plants shut down in 2022 and has been in the decommissioning process since. However, some people want to try something with the plant that has never been done before: reopen a shutdown plant.

Palisades Nuclear Powerplant

The Palisades Nuclear Powerplant in Covert Township was bought in 2022 by Holtec International with the intent to shutter the plant. Still, President Biden has expressed interest in reopening the plant to create more environmentally friendly energy.

The administration is prepared to loan Holtec International a whopping 1.5 billion to get the shuttered plant running again, something that has never happened before. Once a nuclear plant closes, it tends to stay that way: a plant has never been reopened before.

Benefits of Nuclear Energy

According to Michigan.gov, nuclear power plants "produce electricity by using heat generated from nuclear fission to convert water to steam." The reason nuclear energy is so sought after is that there are no carbon emissions generated. Governor Gretchen Whitmer is pushing for the plant to reopen because it will protect 600 jobs and 1,100 additional jobs associated with energy production and create clean, reliable energy for Michigan.

Michigan has a goal to have 100% of its electrical generation come from "clean sources" by 2040, and this would be a step in that direction.

Controversy Surrounding the Plant

While more green energy is usually a good thing, there has been resistance to reopening this plant for multiple reasons, namely the riskiness of this plan. Nuclear power plants always have to be cautious of accidents in case the fission becomes unstable. Plus, since something like this has never been attempted before, no one knows if it is even possible to reboot a plant that has been closed.

There is also the issue that the plant was built in 1967 and is running on old tech. Dropping over a billion dollars to revitalize a plant running tech from the Space Race may not be the best use of funds. GreatLakesNow wrote a great article breaking down the issues with reopening this plant where they interviewed Mycle Schneider, an international nuclear policy analyst.

The plant is still working to get licensed to begin the reopening process, but there is no guarantee the plant will be approved. Until then, the plant will continue its decommissioning process.