It appears as if the United States will restart a deactivated nuclear power plant.
We’re told the U.S. Department of Energy is approving a $1.5 billion loan to Holtec International to reopen the Palisades nuclear power plant in Van Buren County.
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Governor Gretchen Whitmer are expected to make the formal announcement Wednesday morning.
State lawmakers from southwest Michigan and other officials will be present for the announcement in Covert. Holtec has sought the $1 billion from the federal government and another $300 million from the state of Michigan for the project.
The 800-megawatt Palisades nuclear power plant was shut down in May of 2022 as part of a planned decommissioning. This will be the first time a deactivated nuclear power plant has been restarted.
Secretary Granholm has been in Michigan this week, crossing the state to tout the Biden Administration’s energy policy. On Tuesday, Granholm said the Department of Energy is looking for pilot locations for the Battery Workforce Initiative to help prepare workers for battery manufacturing jobs. She would not confirm whether Michigan is on that list of locations, but a decision is expected in April.
