Palisades Nuclear Generating Station
| Company type | Nuclear power plant |
|---|---|
| Industry | Energy |
| Predecessor | CMS Energy (original owner), Nuclear Management Company (manager) |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Headquarters | Covert Township, Michigan , United States |
| Products | Electricity |
| Owner | Holtec International (since 2022) |
The Palisades Nuclear Generating Station is a decommissioned nuclear power plant situated on the shores of Lake Michigan within Covert Township, Michigan in Van Buren County, Michigan, occupying an area of , located approximately south of South Haven, Michigan. Initially under the ownership of CMS Energy and managed by the Nuclear Management Company, the facility was acquired by Entergy on April 11, 2007.
This facility houses a single pressurized water reactor designed by Combustion Engineering, weighing 425 tons with steel walls measuring thick. The containment structure spans in diameter and rises to a height of , featuring concrete walls thick and reinforced internally by a steel plate. The dome-shaped roof has a thickness of . Power generation is driven by a turbine generator from Westinghouse Electric Company, capable of outputting 725,000 kilowatts.
Built between 1967 and 1970, Palisades received its full power operating license in 1973. In July 2006, Entergy announced its intention to purchase the plant for $380 million, finalizing the transaction in April 2007. Although the original license was due to expire in March 2011, a 20-year extension was approved in January 2007, extending the operational timeline to 2031.
In October 2018, Entergy revealed plans to shut down Palisades following a ruling by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) related to a dispute over a power purchase agreement with Consumers Energy. After partial approval granted to Consumers Energy's petition, Entergy decided to continue operations through 2022. By April 2022, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer sought federal assistance aimed at maintaining the plant’s functionality.
Operations at Palisades ceased in May 2022 when Entergy sold the site to Holtec International in June of the same year. Holtec submitted an application for Civil Nuclear Credit funding in September 2022 to facilitate reopening; however, this request was rejected in November. The company announced intentions to reapply for financial support in December 2022 and has been actively pursuing efforts to "repower" the facility. On September 12, 2023, Holtec entered into a power purchase agreement with Wolverine Power Cooperative, contingent upon regulatory approval for restarting operations.
As of August 2024, Holtec has secured $300 million in state-level funding dedicated to the plant’s restart. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Energy has extended a $1.5 billion loan offer to aid restoration efforts. Should operations resume as planned by late 2025, Palisades would become the first nuclear power plant in the United States to recommence activity after having been shut down.
Electricity production
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual (Total) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 592,991 | 512,071 | 571,285 | 2,663 | 298,038 | 371,256 | -3,857 | -2,260 | -2,114 | -2,025 | -1,979 | -5,023 | 2,331,046 |
| 2002 | 168,721 | 535,946 | 600,727 | 576,904 | 577,499 | 537,795 | 582,568 | 568,090 | 545,479 | 591,278 | 565,875 | 507,080 | 6,357,962 |
| 2003 | 591,649 | 525,637 | 288,895 | 151,228 | 591,727 | 566,907 | 560,312 | 572,715 | 562,716 | 588,899 | 553,522</ small > | < small >597 , 274 < / small > | 6 ,151 ,481 |
| 2004 | < small >597 ,162 < / small > | < small >537 ,116 < / small > | < small >596 ,098 < / small > | < small >569 ,271 < / small > | < small >583 ,466 < / small > | < small >560 ,078 < / small > | < small >461 ,033 < / small > | < small >429 ,413 < / small > | < small >196 ,447 < / small > | < small >-2 ,294 < / small > | < small >218 ,324 < / small > | < small >597 ,732 < / small > | 5 ,343 ,846 |
| 2005 | < small >397 ,709 < / small > | < small >541 ,624 < / small > | < small >598 ,387 < / small > | < small >574 ,581 < / small > | < small >590 ,400 < / small > | < small >562 ,735 < / small > | < small >581 ,101 < / small > | < small >576 ,704 < / small > | < small >497 ,868 < / small > | < small >583 ,085 < / small > | < small >559 ,996 < / small > | < small >579 ,426 < / small > | 6 ,643 ,616 |
| 2006 | < small >483 ,519 < / small > | < small >547 ,734 < / small > | < small >602 ,942 < / small > | < small >-2 ,481 < / small > | < small >219 ,549 < / small > | < small >576 ,782 < / small > | < small >585 ,700 < / small > | < small >590 ,628 < / small > | < small >574 ,389 < / small > | < small >602 ,582 < / small > | < small >518 ,820 | 5 ,903 ,861 | |
| 2007 | </ small>< sMall >604 </ sMall>,743 </ sMall > | 5 </ sMall>,826 </ sMall>,015 | |||||||||||
| 2008 | ...
Spent fuel storageSpent nuclear fuel is kept outdoors within 21 dry casks, each designed to hold 30 tons, positioned on a concrete foundation. This arrangement was intended as a provisional solution pending the activation of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository. Parts replacementIn 1992, two steam generators were swapped out, necessitating an opening measuring 28 by 26 feet to be cut through the reinforced concrete wall. The removed steam generators are currently stored inside a large concrete building located on the premises. Surrounding populationThe Nuclear Regulatory Commission establishes two emergency planning zones around nuclear facilities: one is the plume exposure zone, which addresses airborne radioactive hazards, and the other is the ingestion pathway zone, concerned with contaminated food and water supplies. As of 2010, the population residing within of Palisades totaled 28,644, reflecting a 4.5% decline over the previous decade. Within , the population reached 1,326,618, representing a 4.4% rise since 2000. Nearby urban centers include South Bend, IN (45 miles away) and Kalamazoo, MI. Seismic riskA 2010 assessment by the NRC estimated that Palisades faces an annual probability of 1 in 156,250 for an earthquake severe enough to cause core damage. VisitingPublic access to Palisades has been restricted since September 11, 2001; nonetheless, the facility can be observed from adjacent Van Buren State Park. DecommissioningInitially planned to operate until May 31, 2022, the plant ceased operations prematurely on May 20 due to issues with a defective control rod drive seal. Following removal of all fuel, Holtec will acquire ownership of the plant from Entergy and commence a three-year process transferring all spent fuel into dry cask storage. This will be succeeded by a ten-year interval allowing the decommissioning trust fund to accumulate sufficient resources, followed by a six-year dismantling phase anticipated to conclude by 2041. The $550-million decommissioning expenses will be funded through a trust established by Consumers Energy ratepayers. Intention to restart operationsIn January 2024, the federal government proposed extending a $1.5 billion loan to Holtec International aimed at restarting Palisades, potentially as early as February 2024. This conditional agreement was publicly announced on March 27. If realized, Palisades would become the first U.S. nuclear reactor to resume operation after fuel removal and license modifications that previously prohibited its restart. Holtec, headquartered in Jupiter, Florida, secured support from Wolverine Power Cooperative, which committed to purchasing up to two-thirds of the plant’s output beginning as soon as late 2025. Obtaining federal regulatory approval remains a critical step. Holtec acquired this 800-megawatt facility in 2022 after Entergy closed it due to economic considerations. Small modular reactor plansIn December 2023, Holtec International revealed intentions to build the initial two units of its SMR-300 small modular reactors at Palisades by mid-2030, representing a strategic advancement toward deploying cutting-edge nuclear technology. See also
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