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First nuclear reactor restart in US history secures $1.5B in federal funding

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The Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan is set to become the first reactor in the U.S. to restart after being decommissioned. To support this effort, the federal government finalized an over $1.5 billion loan for the project, which is part of a broader strategy to address the country’s growing energy needs while pursuing climate goals.

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The Palisades reactor, which was shut down in 2022 due to financial difficulties, has now secured funding from the Biden administration to resume operations. Holtec International, the plant’s current owner, announced that it has obtained all necessary financing to bring the facility back online. The anticipated restart date is set for the fourth quarter of 2025, pending approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

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Once operational, the Palisades plant will generate enough electricity to power more than 800,000 homes. Holtec also plans to expand the site in the 2030s by introducing small modular reactors (SMRs), which could nearly double the plant’s energy output.

This nuclear restart, an endeavor never before attempted in the U.S., comes amidst a series of plant shutdowns across the country. Since 2012, there have been 19 U.S. nuclear facilities that either closed or were slated for retirement in the coming years. However, with the nation’s electricity demand expected to rise by 15% in the near future, the federal government is turning back to nuclear energy as a reliable source to meet increasing energy needs while reducing carbon emissions.

In addition to the Palisades restart, the revitalization of the facility has set the stage for the planned reopening of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania, which is scheduled to resume operations in 2028.

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Jack Aylmer

IT WOULD BE THE FIRST NUCLEAR REACTOR RESTART IN U.S. HISTORY-

AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS FINALIZED A ONE AND HALF BILLION DOLLAR LOAN TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

AFTER CLOSING BACK IN 20-22 DUE TO FINANCIAL ISSUES, THE PALISADES NUCLEAR REACTOR IN MICHIGAN HAS NOW SECURED FUNDING FROM THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO COME BACK ONLINE.

HOLTEC INTERNATIONAL, THE PLANT’S OWNER, SAYS THEY NOW HAVE ALL THE NECESSARY FINANCING TO GET IT RUNNING AGAIN.

AN EXPECTED START DATE SET FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 20-25-

IS SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION.

ONCE OPERATIONAL, THE REACTOR WILL BE CAPABLE OF GENERATING ENOUGH ENERGY TO POWER OVER 800,000 HOMES.

AND IN THE 20-30’S, HOLTEC PLANS TO ADD SMALL MODULAR REACTORS TO THE SITE THAT WILL NEARLY DOUBLE ITS ENERGY CAPACITY.

A NUCLEAR REACTOR RESTART LIKE THE ONE BEING PLANNED HERE HAS NEVER BEEN ATTEMPTED BEFORE IN THE U.S.

AND IT FOLLOWS A WAVE OF PLANT CLOSURES IN RECENT YEARS-

WITH 19 AMERICAN NUCLEAR FACILITIES EITHER SHUTTING DOWN OR BEING ANNOUNCED FOR RETIREMENT SINCE 20-12.

BUT WITH THE NATION’S ELECTRICAL DEMANDS SET TO JUMP 15 PERCENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE-

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN TURNING BACK TO NUCLEAR AS A WAY OF MEETING THESE ENERGY NEEDS WHILE STAYING ON TRACK TO HIT CLIMATE GOALS.

THE REVIVAL OF THE PALISADES PLANT HELPED PAVE THE WAY FOR ANOTHER NUCLEAR RESTART AT THREE MILE ISLAND IN PENNSYLVANIA-

WHICH IS EXPECTED TO RESUME OPERATIONS IN 20-28.

TO GET MORE STORIES ABOUT THE REVIVAL OF NUCLEAR ENERGY – DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND SIGN UP FOR ALERTS FROM ME – JACK AYLMER.