NRC Greenlights Restart of Dormant Nuclear Power Plant
Published Date: 7/29/2025
Notice
Summary
The Palisades Nuclear Plant gets a green light to restart power operations thanks to a special exemption from the NRC. This change lifts old rules that stopped the plant from running and handling fuel, giving Palisades a fresh start without extra costs or delays. This update affects the plant’s owners and keeps energy flowing safely and smoothly.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Palisades authorized to resume power
The NRC granted an exemption that allows the Palisades Nuclear Plant to resume power operations by approving a one-time rescission of the docketed decommissioning certifications that had prohibited reactor operation and the emplacement and retention of fuel in the reactor vessel. The exemption supports a reauthorization request dated September 28, 2023 and lets the plant operate again and supply electricity to the grid.
Owners cleared to resume operations
Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC, on behalf of Holtec Palisades, LLC, requested the exemption on September 28, 2023; the NRC's action rescinds the decommissioning certifications and also rescinds six prior exemptions tied to Palisades' decommissioning status. This removes prior restrictions that prevented the plant owners from operating the reactor and emplacing fuel, effectively allowing the owners to restart operations without the earlier decommissioning limits.
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