Environmental Groups Sue to Block Palisades Nuclear Plant Restart

A coalition of anti-nuclear organizations, including Beyond Nuclear, Don’t Waste Michigan, and Michigan Safe Energy Future, filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan to block the restart of the Palisades Nuclear Power Plant. The plaintiffs seek a permanent injunction, alleging that Holtec Energy and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission violated the Atomic Energy Act by attempting to convert a terminated license back into an operating license.

The lawsuit claims Holtec used a "bait-and-switch" strategy, first suggesting the plant would be dismantled before seeking to reopen it. Environmental groups warn that the facility is an aged, poorly maintained reactor with degraded steam generator tubes, which could lead to a large-scale reactor core meltdown. They further argue the plant cannot compete in the open market despite receiving billions in federal subsidies.

Holtec Energy maintains that the reopening process is safe and follows a rigorous review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The facility, which closed in 2022, is the first nuclear plant in U.S. history to attempt a transition from decommissioning back to active operations. Holtec intends to restart the plant in 2026, coinciding with rising energy demands in Michigan driven by new data centers.